The national government failed to abide by an Eastern Cape High Court (East London) order which compelled it to find alternative accommodation for people who were in quarantine when their homes were demolished in July.

A Daily Dispatch report notes the High Court had given the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure 10 days to find alternative accommodation for people who had tested positive for Covid-19 when their Bhongweni homes were demolished on 27 July.

Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille’s spokesperson, Zara Nicholson, implied that because those who had tested positive for Covid-19 would have recovered from the coronavirus, the failure to abide by the ruling was not an issue.

Nicholson blamed residents for what she said was their failure to tell them who had been in quarantine or isolation when their homes were demolished using a 2017 court order that prevents anyone from building on the disputed Greydel Farm land near the East London Airport.

The interim order did not specify whom the onus was on, between the residents and the department, to identify the people who had tested positive for the coronavirus at the time.

Public Works was heavily criticised for demolishing the houses during the national lockdown, especially since Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu had said no-one should be evicted during the lockdown.

Airport Park and Bhongweni committee chair Simphiwe Fani accused the state of not being a law-abiding government for its failure to abide by the interim court order.

‘Ten days came and went, and not a single person was found alternative accommodation for by the government. We also have not heard anything regarding the 77 people whose homes were demolished. Ever since the government demolished the houses, not a single official has come to engage with us,’ he said.

Full Daily Dispatch report