‘WE WERE PROMISED E1 500 TO GO TO MAVUSO’

MATSAPHA– In the midst of COVID-19 infections, allegations have emerged that patients were enticed with a promise of E1 500 to self-quarantine away from their homes.

New Village, a densely populated area under Swazi Nation Land in Matsapha, recorded over 25 infections all within two weeks in one street. Given the settlement pattern in the area, it was imperative that those found to be positive be taken away.
However, some of the residents who tested positive and were subsequently taken to Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre, have alleged that they were enticed with money by the health team if they consented to be taken away. This, amidst government policy that those who want to recuperate at home should be allowed to  do so, as long as there is no probability to spread the virus.

When health officials came to the area and swabbed a number of residents, they also discovered that some of those who tested positive at New Village were pupils. Their parents, who work at the Matsapha Industrial Site, subsequently tested positive.

Positive

*Thembela, an employee of a courier company in Manzini, said he had received the news from another patient who also tested positive.
“On that week, several other people had tested positive in this street, and we had been told that we would be moved to recuperate at Mavuso. Then a patient told me and other patients that a health worker had promised him that he should not worry because while he was away, government would ensure that E1 500 is paid to sustain his family. This then created a wide expectation from all of us that we would be incentivised while recuperating from the virus,” he said.
Thembela asked to remain anonymous because his employer was extremely annoyed after hearing that he had tested positive for the virus.

“Though I have been free of the virus for the past 15 days, my employer had not paid my salary and is angry that I had not gone on isolation after I had been swabbed. He says he had to spend E35 000 swabbing all his employees to ensure that I had not spread the virus in his company,” he said.

Thembela said the news of the E1 500 stipend had enlightened him because he had no money to pay for rent, nor to support his child. However, he said he was disappointed when he later learnt from other patients that it was untrue.
Asked whether he had enlisted in the layoff fund, he said his employer did not tell him anything about that option and that he did not know how to reach out to the management committee of the layoff fund.

Negative

Meanwhile, another resident who had tested positive also said he had stayed at Mavuso for two weeks, after which he tested negative and was released.
He said he also heard that patients were promised E1 500 if they consented to recuperate at Mavuso, but he did not receive anything.

The pupil of Hillside High School, said he had frequently visited friends along the street and had been shocked when one of his circle of friends also tested positive.
“They also tested me and discovered that I was positive, after which they took all of us to Mavuso, where we were recuperating.”

He said his mother also subsequently tested positive and was taken to Mavuso for two weeks.
Another parent in the area said she was worried because her daughter, who is also a pupil, was friends with a number of residents who tested positive.
“The health officials swabbed her and she stayed in isolation waiting for results. The results did not come back, even after a month until she went out of isolation. I really do not know why she did not get her results, when many others did,” she said. Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula said government did not have the money to lure people to Mavuso for treatment. “It would be very unethical of government to do that because it would amount to tricking people to go for treatment,” he said.

Tested

Dr Magagula said people were given all information they needed before being tested and taken for treatment.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) said there was no compensation for patients who tested positive and had to recuperate away from home.
“People can only benefit from the hunger relief fund, which comes in form of food parcels or money,” Wandile Mavuso said.
*Not real name

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: