In late 2015 and 2016, South Africa witnessed a horrific tragedy. 144 people entrusted to the Gauteng public health system died from neglect, starvation and cruelty. This book examines the Life Esidimeni tragedy, offering a powerful narrative built on the stories of those most affected.

When writer Harriet Perlman and photographer Mark Lewis set about documenting the lives of the families whose loved ones had died in this catastrophe, they were determined to honour the dead, and to recognise the sufferings of those left behind. They travelled far and wide, and listened to their stories. These heartbreaking stories, accompanied by powerful portraits by Mark Lewis, help the reader to forge a deep connection with the victims. These photographs are not just faces on a page, but a testament to the human cost of this tragedy.

This book shines a light on the tireless efforts of organisations like SECTION27, SADAG and the Life Esidimeni Family Committee who have fought for truth, justice and accountability, holding those in power responsible for their actions. It is also a stark reminder of how wrong things can get with an arrogant, callous and unaccountable political leadership.

The book explores the ongoing struggle for better mental healthcare in South Africa and the urgent need to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. This is a call to action, urging readers to engage with the ongoing fight for mental health reform.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Harriet Perlman has worked in film, television and publishing for over 30 years, as a producer, scriptwriter, story editor and writer on a number of pioneering South African projects. These include Yizo Yizo, Soul City, and the award winning Vaya, which was both a film and a book based on stories from the Homeless Writer’s Project. Perlman has worked on entertainment and education projects and initiatives that combine the two. She is co-producer of the documentary film and writer of the accompanying book, The Colour of Wine. She is currently working with Heartlines on their Fathers Matter campaign and with the composer Philip Miller to create a vogue-opera on the life of gay anti-apartheid activist Simon Nkoli.

Mark Lewis is an urban photographer based in Johannesburg. For the past ten years he has traversed the dense inner core and the constantly shifting edges of Johannesburg. His images are an interplay between people and space. At root they are tales of lives carved in the search for economic opportunity and the stories of the impacts of those lives on the spatial fabric of the city. His work has been widely exhibited and published, and he has completed the tenth book in the popular series of Johannesburg stories called Wake Up, This is Joburg with writer and urban planner, Tanya Zack which formed part of the South African pavilion on the 2015 Venice Biennale.

'Life Esidimeni: Portraits of Lives Lost' is published by Jacana Media