Civil society writes to Ramaphosa over treatment of poor people during lockdown

Socio-Economic Rights Institute researcher Thato Masiangoako says forced evictions and demolitions are human right violations.

A number of civil society organisations and NGOs have written to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the national command council over concerns of violations of human rights committed during the lockdown.

This coalition is concerned about incidents of violence committed against citizens and the unlawful mass demolitions of shacks and evictions of vulnerable people at informal settlements.

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Bongani Bingwa chats to Socio-Economic Rights Institute researcher Thato Masiangoako to give more details on the matter.

The letter comes following a press statement on the excessive use of force that they were seeing by law enforcements who have been tasked to enforce lockdown regulations. The letter tries to draw a connection with the demolitions and evictions that we have been seeing and the active rounding up of homeless people during this time.

Thato Masiangoako, Researcher - Socio-Economic Rights Institute

She says they want to alert the president on these human rights violations.

Poor and marginalised people are having their homes destroyed and at the same time homeless people are being rounded up and sent to a camp under conditions that pose serious risk to their health. These demolitions and evictions and the treatment of homeless people should be seen as a disappointing armed response from the state.

Thato Masiangoako, Researcher - Socio-Economic Rights Institute

Listen below to the full conversation:

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