Coronavirus: Rumours swirl of Thaba Nchu hotel quarantine

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in the Free State is trying to confirm rumours that South Africans from the coronavirus epicentre, Wuhan, will be quarantined at the Black Mountain Leisure and Conference Hotel in Thaba Nchu, Free State.

According to Jacaranda FM, this comes after reports that government planned to quarantine more than 151 South Africans at the Black Mountain Leisure and Conference Hotel in Thaba Nchu once they arrive back from China. 

The government has confirmed that 201 South Africans are living in Wuhan. Originally, 151 people indicated they wanted to return home, but the number has since increased to 184.

A total of 16 people have indicated that they do not wish to come back and 34 are being tracked down by the Department of International Relations (Dirco).

Cosatu claims coronavirus quarantine is in Free State

Free State Cosatu secretary Monyatso Mahlatsi said the union received information that Thaba Nchu had been chosen as the area for quarantine. 

“After receiving the information, neither the provincial government nor the institution could confirm that it is actually true,” said Mahlatsi. 

“They referred us to the military and we walked into a brick wall, and we couldn’t confirm that it is true,” added Mahlatsi.

According to Mahlatsi, the military could not confirm the rumour that the Black Mountain Leisure and Conference Hotel would be used to quarantine the South Africans for 21 days.

He added that, if true, the province decided to repatriate South Africans into the area without proper consultation and without provincial leadership structures.

SANDF willing to travel to Wuhan 

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on Friday 6 March denied reports that soldiers were not willing to go to Wuhan to evacuate citizens, due to the coronavirus.

The Mail & Guardian initially reported that SANDF members didn’t want to risk their lives by travelling to the epicentre of the coronavirus. However, its spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Dlamini said soldiers were trained for these kind of missions where there was a high risk.

“We are trained for any eventuality including losing our lives, and that’s our business and responsibility. We have given the state our lives so that they can use us in any way that they would like to,” he said.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize also confirmed that the government is searching for eight other people believed to have travelled with South Africa’s “patient zero”.

“We are tracking down the other eight people the man travelled with to Italy so they can be quarantined and tested. We will be tracking down anyone else who may have travelled from or to the same place in Italy where this man had travelled so they can also be tested,” he said. 

“There are hospitals that are ready to treat patients. The National Operations Centre will be open 24 hours. South Africa is not at a stage where there is a need to close down schools. This only happens when a significant number of cases are reported,” he added.