AfriForum threatens legal action against ‘draconian’ Covid hospital regulations

The regulations, gazetted by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, give way to compulsory quarantine of Covid-positive patients at hospitals. 

The gaztette is dated 1 February. 

According to these new regulations, “no person who has been tested positive for Covid-19 through a laboratory test and is symptomatic, may refuse to be treated or to be admitted to a health establishment for treatment or isolation in order to prevent transmission”.

“Provided that if a person does not comply with the instructions order of the enforcement officer, that person must be placed in isolation at a health facility for a period not exceeding 48 hours, pending a warrant being issued by a competent court,” the gazetted notice adds.

AfriForum wants government to abolish what it labels ‘quarantine camp plans’ - threatening legal action if government fails to change the regulations. 

“It is inexplicable why the minister would now once again want to introduce such a draconian measure, seeing that the court has already ruled that people who can safely self-isolate at home may do so. If the Minister fails to make these amendments, we will certainly fight them again in court,” says AfriForum’s Campaign Manager, Jacques Broodryk.

Last year, the lobby group was granted an urgent application to have quarantine regulations, prohibiting self-isolation, declared invalid. 

AfriForum argues the regulations are irrational and draconian.

Read full gazette below:

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