The Strandfontein Ratepayers Association has opened up a criminal case against the City of Cape Town and City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, saying they have paved the way for “catastrophic consequences” for the health and safety of hundreds of homeless people and residents of Strandfontein.
On Sunday, chairman Mario Oostendurp and members of the Association went to Strandfontein SAPS to open the case.
He says they received a case number, but by Monday police had yet to confirm what the charges were.
Oosterdurp says they decided to open the case after more than 1500 homeless people were moved to the Strandfontein Sports Field for the duration of the national Coronavirus lockdown.
He says this was done without consulting residents and posed both a health and safety risk.
Last week, Reverend Chris Nissen, of the South African Human Rights Commission, visited the site and observed a number of things including that social distancing was not being practised, and sanitary care was inadequate.
Oostendurp said in a statement: “I am filing this criminal complaint on behalf of the Strandfontein Ratepayers Association because Mr. Mbandazayo, the City Manager has failed to comply with the lockdown regulations and should be held accountable for his actions.
“The high concentration of vulnerable and immune-compromised persons all together on a single site could amount to a public health disaster waiting to happen with a potential negative impact not only for the homeless people but also for the residents of Strandfontein.
“There is also a risk of violence between the Law Enforcement agencies at the site and the homeless people, as has been noted the past week.”
CASE: Association at Strandfontein Police Station
City spokesman Luthando Tyhalibongo claims that conditions are improving at the site.
“The City notes the statement by Mario Oostendurp and will await formal communication from the SAPS. Despite some initial challenges, there is a daily improvement in our services at Strandfontein,” Tyhalibongo says.