In response to the government’s announcement that it plans to ‘de-densify’ five informal settlements in the fight against COVID-19, Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa, said:
“Any measures taken by the government in response to COVID-19 , including de-densification must be grounded in human rights. De-densification must not lead to forced evictions and must include human rights safeguards including genuine consultation with affected people.
“Relocation can be extremely disruptive and at a time when social networks and community support are key, governments must explore all alternatives to de-densification including equipping informal settlements with protective measures such as facilities in the vicinity where people can self-isolate if necessary.
“The government must ensure that all those living in informal settlements as well as those who are relocated as part of the de-densification process are not cut off from their sources of livelihood and have immediate access to adequate housing, safe and reliable water and sanitation facilities, access to health care and food in line with national and international human rights laws and standards.
“As we mark World Health Day today, the government must prioritise human rights and leave no-one behind. As noted by the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, ‘Housing has become the frontline defence against the coronavirus. Home has rarely been more of a life or death situation’.”
Background
Minister of Human Settlements, Water & Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu announced on 6 April 2020 that five areas has been identified to relocate people from high-density informal settlements in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19. This has now been referred to as ‘de-densification’, and the five areas include Dunoon in the Western Cape, Duncan Village in the Eastern Cape, Kennedy Road in Durban, Stjwetla in Alexandra and Mooiplaas in Tshwane.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Mienke Steytler, Media and Digital Content Officer, Amnesty International South Africa: +27 (0)64 890 9224; mienke.steytler@amnesty.org.za
