1 April 2020
In the face of a devastating global pandemic, Covid-19, the City of Cape Town shamelessly displays its inhumane treatment of the poor and vulnerable in stark contrast with the spirit articulated by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The essence of the President’s message was to save and protect human life regardless of class, race, religion and gender.
Concluding his statement, the President underlined a plea to act with compassion in implementing the extraordinary restriction measures. However, the City of Cape Town flagrantly ignored this plea, in particular in its treatment of the most vulnerable citizens, the homeless and destitute. Clearly, the DA-led City of Cape Town does not believe that human life is worth the same hence they decided to erect tents under a bridge as shelter for the homeless.
This measure is clearly inhumane and directly violates the right to dignity of the most vulnerable and susceptible to the virus. There are countless facilities that are suitable for human habitation that could have been used to give shelter in addition to the homeless shelters that exist across the city. This treatment must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Equally, an appeal should also be conveyed to the National Coronavirus Command Council to urgently intervene to protect the life and dignity of the people concerned.
As the SACP we are also extremely concerned about the readiness of the Western Cape government to respond to the pandemic particularly in our public health facilities. The weaknesses of the Western Cape government were exposed in the handling of the case of Khayelitsha’s Covid-19 patient who was subjected to stigmatisation and healthcare workers were refusing to assist until the National Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, was alerted and intervened decisively.
Human life is worth the same and the right to dignity is sacrosanct. Authorities have a duty of care and must act with compassion!
Issued by SACP Western Cape
Contact:
Benson Ngqentsu- SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary
Mobile- 0827966400
