AfriForum fights for 107 detainees

Lobby group wants Covid-19 tests done, takes Mkhize to court

AFRIFORUM has asked the North Gauteng High Court to urgently order the Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize to test the 107 people placed at the Zithabiseni quarantine camp in Groblersdal, Mpumalanga, for Covid-19 or release them to self-isolate.

The lobby group filed urgent papers in the high court last week.

Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s head of cultural affairs, said they served Mkhize, Police Minister Bheki Cele and other government departments with letters of demand but none of them have yet replied, prompting them to approach the court.

The parties, Bailey said, had until Sunday to furnish them with their answering affidavits. The case is now set to be heard in court tomorrow.

In the application, AfriForum is asking the court to order Mkhize to immediately test those detained in the camp.

They are also asking the court to interdict the Health Ministry to refrain from using the facility as a quarantine site, saying it is unsafe for human habitation.

Bailey maintained that the lobby group wanted the detainees at the site to be tested immediately and that those who test negative be allowed to self-quarantine in their homes.

“Those who test positive should be allowed to self-isolate, and if not, they should not be detained at Zithabiseni – as it does not comply with standards set out by the World Health Organization,” Bailey said.

The lobby group further alleges that the detainees had not been provided with proper food and washing materials since their incarceration at Zithabiseni.

Bailey said one of the applicants, Leon Nel – a veterinarian based in Midrand and his family were on holiday in Mozambique, when the nationwide lockdown and the closure of borders were announced.

“They stayed in self-isolation for more than five weeks and decided to return home after consultation with officials from the Department of International Relations and Co-operation in Mozambique,” Bailey said.

She maintained that the Nel family and others arrived at the Lebombo border post on April 27, from where they were transported to Zithabiseni.

“The facility is in a run-down, dilapidated state. Most of the chalets on the premises are either burnt out or in ruins. Wild animals such as baboons and buffalo are roaming around and that cause serious risks to the families held there,” Bailey pointed out.

Health spokesperson Popo Maja said the ministry was aware of the litigation. He added that they were inundated by inquiries from the media.

Yesterday, AfriForum said it has yet to receive answering affidavits.

In a media statement on Sunday, the lobby group’s head of policy Ernst Roets said they had arranged for a team of medical personnel to visit the people at the quarantine camp close to Globersdal – who allegedly haven’t been tested for Covid-19 by the state.

“Not only was the private medical team refused entrance to the premises, but the police also called in backup to ensure the team won’t be able to return,” Roets said.

Roets claimed the government had at the time informed the detainees they wouldn’t be tested by the state for Covid-19 at this stage, and that they would be detained in the quarantine camp.

“This regardless of the fact that they didn’t know whether they have the virus. They are also not allowed to self-isolate at home or have themselves tested at their own cost,” Roets said.