AfriForum: Government exploits police and defence force to violate human rights during lockdown
12 May 2020
The civil rights organisation AfriForum has voiced its concern that the South African government is using the COVID-19 pandemic to promote its ideologies and to severely violate citizens’ rights. This comes after several disturbing incidents involving peace officers and law enforcement officers (including an attempt to forcefully arrest a four year old child) and statements by the president and other politicians. AfriForum will therefore place renewed focus on current local campaigns aimed at the protection of the rights of citizens and minorities and will launch an international lobbying campaign.
AfriForum is currently formulating a report on the South African government’s handling of the pandemic, which will be submitted to the United Nations (UN). The UN recently expressed its concern over the “toxic” enforcement of lockdown regulations. In April, Georgette Gandon, the UN’s Director of Field Operations, highlighted the “highly militarised” law enforcement response in South Africa, including the use of whips and rubber bullets.
The latest incident of unreasonable and arbitrary conduct by peace officers happened in Ballito yesterday. Video footage currently circulating on social media shows municipal peace officers of the KwaDukuza Municipality attempting to arrest a four year old child for allegedly not adhering to COVID-19 regulations.
According to AfriForum there are several other factors that are cause for concern, such as: