Quarantine site fail: Nel family released

A GOVERNMENT quarantine site for Covid-19 cases, the Zithabiseni Resort in Groblersdal, Mpumalanga, doesn’t meet the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This according to a ruling by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria yesterday following an urgent application by AfriForum for the government to release more than 100 people who have been kept at the resort since their arrival in South Africa on April 27.

Judge Hans Fabricius ordered Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize to immediately release the group, even if some had tested positive for the virus.

The judge said Mkhize must now find alternative accommodation for those who tested positive and cannot self-isolate themselves.

In his ruling, Judge Fabricius said the resort did not meet quarantine facility standards set out by the WHO.

The 107 people have been kept at the site since their arrival in the country from Mozambique.

Among those being held are the Nel family, who were on holiday in Mozambique when the lockdown was announced.

The family returned to South Africa after five weeks of self-isolation in Mozambique.

On their arrival at the Lebombo border post, members of the SAPS took them to the quarantine camp, despite the family’s consultation with officials from the South African Department of International Relations and Co-operation in Mozambique.

The family and others were finally tested for Covid-19 eight days after their arrival.

Mkhize did not oppose the application and did not give reasons for allowing health authorities to stay at the site for almost 10 days without being tested.

Judge Fabricius said: “Dr Mkhize is to disclose to AfriForum’s legal representative and make available an alternative quarantine facility fit for human habitation and safety which complies with World Health Organization standards.

“Those who tested positive for the coronavirus infection (should) be allowed to self-isolate. Alternatively, if it is not possible for such persons to self-isolate, that such persons be removed from Zithabiseni quarantine facility at Groblersdal to a quarantine facility fit for human habitation.”

The judge also interdicted Mkhize from using the facility “until it has been restored for human habitation” and complies with WHO quarantine standards.

Mkhize has until May 18 to appeal the ruling.

Reacting to the outcome, AfriForum head of campaigns Monique Taute said the lobby group welcomed the court’s ruling.

“AfriForum will not tolerate such abuses of power by government officials. It is immoral that people are detained in such camps and that officials refused to test them for such a long time. It is a blatant violation of people’s basic freedoms.

“These people were prisoners for all intents and purposes.

“The facility not only violated the required WHO standards, but the people were also kept there against their will.”

He further said: “These cases prove that the national regulations – which allow the government to force people into quarantine camps, regardless of whether they can effectively self-isolate – are irrational.”

She said their detention was a violation of the most basic freedoms and dignities of people and amounted to measures that could under no circumstances be justifiable in any democracy.

The Department of Health had not commented at the time of publication.