A Khayelitsha man is desperate to clear his name and his reputation after his photograph was shared on social media with a post claiming he escaped from hospital after testing positive for the Coronavirus.
On Thursday Yamkela Mgwadla, 20, opened a case at Lingelethu East Police Station after his photograph went viral on Wednesday with the following message: “News alert! Specially for those who live in Site B Section and U section.
“Allegedly there’s a man from the U section that has the Coronavirus and was admitted to Khayelitsha Hospital. Apparently he ran away from the hospital in the aim of infecting those in his blood saying I quote: ‘Andizugula Dodwa.’ (I’m not going to be sick alone)”
FOR THE RECORD: Yamkela Mgwadla, 20, of Khayelitsha
Yamkela was assisted by Thulani Stemele, with his colleague Pelisa Maarman of the Good Party, in opening the police case and they escorted him to Khayelitsha Hospital where he was screened for the virus.
The results were negative and the Western Cape Department of Health’s Mark van der Heever confirmed they had no confirmed cases at the hospital on Wednesday.
It was also confirmed that Yamkela had not been to the hospital.
“As at yesterday, we do not have a case in Khayelitsha,” explains Van der Heever.
Yamkela says his life has been a living hell since Wednesday when the message went viral.
He claims when people in the community see him, they run away.
“I received the message on Wednesday and I was so shocked and confused because I was never a patient at the hospital and I do not have Coronavirus,” he says, near tears.
“I do not know why someone will do this to me.
“When the people see me, they run away from me.
“I am feeling very bad.
“I live with my father.
“‘That is why I have opened a case with the police.”
Thulani also took a photograph of Yamkela at the police station to prove to the community that he had opened a case.
Yamkela at the police station.
Thulani says they are warning people not to spread fake news: “We were alerted about this on Wednesday and today (Thursday) we accompanied him to the police station and hospital because he has never been a patient there.
“To the public, we will be monitoring you on social media for the next 21 days and if we find that you are spreading fake news about someone, saying they have Corona, we will lay a charge.”