The Strandfontein camp where more than 1000 homeless people were kept during the lockdown will be empty by 20 May, Mayco Member for Community Services and Health Zahid Badroodien said on Thursday.
Ward councillor Elton Jansen informed Stranfontein residents about the closure of the site via Facebook and said he has been in contact with Mayco Member for Community Services and Health Zahid Badroodien.
“I wish to confirm communication from Councillor Badroodien regarding the closure of the Strandfontein Covid-19 lockdown site for street people. It confirms that the site will be closed as of April 30 2020 and by Mid-May 2020 all street people will be relocated from the Strandfontein site,” said Jansen.
“Myself and the FMC have already started communicating with the Executive Director for Community Services, Mr. Vincent Botto regarding the restoration of the Sports Complex.”
Badroodien confirmed the closure: “As of today, 30 April 2020, no more people will be taken in at the Strandfontein temporary shelter site. Those on site who want further assistance will be moved to smaller shelters that are being prepared. By 20 May 2020, the site will be empty.”
Videos circulating on social media on Thursday show hundreds of homeless mense leaving the controversial camp sak en pak.
Mense leaving the camp sak en pak. Video supplied
A total of 1500 homeless people from across the city were housed at the site and placed inside tents during the lockdown.
This decision was met with much uproar from Strandfontein residents represented by the Ratepayers Association who likened it to the German Concentration Camp, “Auschwitz”’
To date, one person has died of natural causes at the camp and police have also confirmed that an 18-year-old girl had been raped there. There have been no positive cases of Covid-19 reported.
The SAHRC’s, Reverend Chris Nissen visited the site on several occasions and said there was no social distancing being practiced and also called for the camp’s closure.
Mario Oostendurp, of the Strandfontein Ratepayers says the matter of human rights violation, was taken to the Cape High Court.
He adds further communication on the issue will be dealt with at a later stage once they receive answers.
“Today we are due to have our case heard at the Cape Town High Court. We can confirm that we have received a statement from Councillor Jansen confirming the closure of the homeless shelter at the Strandfontein Sports field today.
“From this statement, it seems the City of Cape Town are in agreement with us that the homeless camp should be closed. However, it is not very clear and a bit confusing in light of the fact that they plan to defend their case in court and based on the Mayor's recent statements. We are consulting with our attorney and will release a statement later today," he said.
genevieve.serra@inl.co.za