Community activists have filmed several men who claimed to have escaped from the Strandfontein Sports Field where 1500 homeless people are being housed during the Coronavirus lockdown.
The men said the camp was worse than jail and women’s bodies are being sold for entjies.
“ Vroumense was verkrag, die vroumense word verkoop vir cigarette daarso. Dit is worse dan die tronk, die way hulle ons hanteer daar. Daar is baie van hulle wat weggehardloop het,” claims one of the escapees in a video which has gone viral on social media.
They also claim gang fights take place, and that there’s a lack of medication and blankets.
The men claim women's bodies are being sold for entjies. Video supplied
Activists Venetia Orgill and Shanice Appels met the group of homeless men in Roeland Street, Cape Town, on Tuesday night.
Venetia feeds the homeless in Cape Town, but says she will not comment publicly on the men’s claims until a full investigation is done by the SA Human Rights Commission.
The videos were filmed by Shanice and posted on Facebook.
The men also claimed a second person has died at the camp, but the City of Cape Town on Thursday insisted that only one person has died, while 13 people have tested positive for tuberculosis, but none for Covid-19.
They confirmed that 52 suspected cases of Covid-19 came back with negative results, while a few others are currently in isolation, awaiting results.
The men claim more people have died inside the camp but the City refutes this. Video supplied
Mayco Member for Community Services and Health Zahid Badroodien reiterated that the temporary shelter is part of national efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
As of yesterday, the Western Cape had 702 cases.
The Strandfontein camp has become a source of embarrassment for the City, after a 36-year-old man was arrested last Friday for allegedly raping an 18-year-old girl.
Four people also made a dash for freedom last week, of whom one is still at large.
Badroodien confirmed that 142 people have left the camp, “either to be reunited with their families, or of their own volition”.
“This is a clear indication that no person is being held against their will,” he said.
Shanice says the men showed her the City tags on their arms which confirm they were at the camp.
“ Hier is die tent se nommer, as ons nie so ‘n tag het nie, dan kry ons niks nie,” one man said.
Men showed her the City tags on their arms which confirm they were at the camp. Video supplied
In the videos, the men claim “women are being raped”, there are constant gang fights and each person has only been given one blanket to protect them against the cold at night.
They also claimed that a second person has died: “ So twee weke terug is daar ‘n man dood, en nog een gisteraand. Hy’t net bloed opgebring, toe hoes hy sy longe uit.
“ Sien ma, een blanket gaan nie help vir een persoon nie. Daar kom baie koue duur. Die mense slaap op die vloer”.
The food is also bad, they say: “ Sop met piesangs in, appel, rys, boontjies, alles is innie sopbekers. Hulle sak af, ‘die wit mense eet so’.”
The men say they fled under cover of darkness.
The men claim more people have died inside the camp but the City refutes this. Video supplied
Yesterday, Badroodien took to Facebook to dismiss the men’s claims.
“Law Enforcement officers at the Strandfontein shelter confirm that the claims by these two men are a complete lie,” he wrote.
“They were part of the group that requested to leave. Law Enforcement returned them from where they came upon their request.”
He reminded people that spreading false information about the pandemic is a criminal offence, stating: “Please confirm rumours with the appropriate authority before circulating it as truth.”
But Shanice says the onus is on Badroodien to prove otherwise: “If it is fake news, he must allow us into the camp to prove it. Him saying it is fake news means he is trying to hide it.”
But Badroodien says they can’t allow just anyone to come onto the site: “The City has a duty to protect the health and dignity of those on site, and we cannot have unfettered access as has been demanded by various organisations and media.”
He said they are not aware of any incidents as described by the men: “The site management has not been made aware of any further incidents. If this is indeed the case, we urge the complainants to please come forward so that an investigation can be conducted.”