Author: Christine Nxumalo

At the height of the Life Esidimeni scandal, a political contact tried to dissuade me from fighting publicly. When she failed, she too was shunned. I realized the value of feedback from such experiences, reminiscent of Afrikaner liberals who faced similar consequences. Despite facing subtle targeting, I spoke out to honor the victims and whistleblowers. The impact of my activism on my family has been devastating. My niece collapsed and died during arbitration proceedings, my husband developed a heart condition, and my children suffered emotionally. We found support through the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, without which we would…

An inquest has found former Gauteng health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, and former head of mental health, Makgabo Manamela, responsible for the death of Christine Nxumalo’s sister, Virginia Machpelah. Nxumalo, a prominent voice in the Life Esidimeni tragedy, shares the devastating toll speaking out took on her. As a professional working in the Gauteng government, Nxumalo’s life was good until the closure of the Life Esidimeni facility where her sister resided. Despite facing consequences and backlash for speaking out, she continued to fight for her sister’s rights and the truth about the neglect leading to her death. Through personal losses and…