The death of a woman who is suspected to have fallen into a manhole in Bloemhof raises questions as to whether the mentally ill in our communities are being cared for, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Thursday.
“We are saddened by the tragic and untimely death as a caring and compassionate government. We call on communities and families to approach authorities to ensure that people with mental illnesses have access to quality psychiatric and professional medical health care,” added Premier Modise.
She said that in addition to building the 648 bed Bophelong Psychiatric hospital in Mahikeng at a cost of R478 million, the provincial government will be expanding access to quality psychiatric and professional health care for people with mental illnesses with construction of community based psychiatric health care facilities.
The Premier appealed to Maquassi Local Municipality to ensure that the environment of its residents is safer and that there are no other similar unsafe manholes within its jurisdiction.
According to police, the 50 year old woman's family had been looking for her since she left their home on Tuesday night.
It is alleged that a relative reported that she saw the woman’s body in a flooded manhole around midday on Wednesday which was subsequently recovered by police divers around 15h30.
Police have opened an inquest docket. They suspect that the deceased could not see the hole that was covered by water and posed danger to the residents.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
