Covid concerns at two BCM courthouses

There are three positive Covid-19 cases at the Mdantsane magistrate's court and six at the Zwelitsha courthouse.

In all, 29 officials at the Mdantsane court have been told to self-isolate. Of these, seven were tested with three coming back positive.

The results of the rest were “still pending”, said Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the justice and constitutional development department.

Phiri said the first case was reported on June 14 and the following day the court manager commissioned a contracted cleaning company to fumigate the affected offices.

“The court did not fully close but all sections were reopened once the cleaning was done.

“The health department advises close contacts should  rather self-isolate for 14 days or present themselves for testing if they show symptoms.”

At the Zwelitsha court, six officials tested positive for Covid-19 after  50 officials, cleaners and security guards were tested in May.

The court was decontaminated on June 16, a public holiday.

“Closure of the court is necessitated by the urgency of decontamination and the product used. For instance, had the 16th fallen on a working day, the court would have closed for that day to decontaminate," Phiri said.

The positive cases at the two courts have sparked fears among those working and visiting the buildings.

An advocate, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “We hear about these positive cases in the corridors but we are not told which offices are affected. This shows the department of justice is not transparent in dealing with this matter,” he said. 

“We travel between the two courts almost daily and it is not acceptable that we are kept in the dark.”

He said there were senior officials who may have come into contact with people who tested positive for Covid-19 but were “roaming around the building, doing business as if it was usual”. 

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