The owner of the Rocklands building where the offices are housed, Freddy Kenny, tells OFM News his decision to close the building on Thursday came on the back of numerous engagements with the department days prior when he was informed they did not have essentials like sanitisers, masks and gloves at the building due to budget constraints.

On Friday the Home Affairs department rushed to the Free State High Court in the city to have Kenny interdicted and barred from shutting the building down.

Kenny says he received word of the last minute application at 11:00 am, three hours before the matter was heard before the High Court. An hour later, the Home Affairs Department emerged successful, managing to have Kenny interdicted. He says he handed the building back over to the department, this despite measures still not being in place. The Department of Home Affairs has since Friday not responded to OFM News’ queries on the matter.

While Kenny does not plan on having the Free State High Court judgment reviewed, he has hired less than 50 young people to help clean the offices daily. He remains disappointed in said judgment saying “I don’t understand. This is not about me, it’s about principles. President Cyril Ramaphosa urged businesses to be at the forefront of the war against the spread of the pandemic”.  Kenny goes on to share his concern for the township community, adding they are vulnerable, especially in the face of water constraints. The Bloemfontein Home Affairs building is located in the Rocklands township.

Despite succeeding in interdicting the prominent businessman, the Home Affairs offices remain closed on Monday. The OFM News team visited the offices, where people queued outside. One resident says they have been informed staff is waiting for santisers etc. Kenny, on the other hand, alleges staff is refusing to work until measures are in place. Spokesperson for Home Affairs Ministry, Siqa Qoza, is yet to respond to queries on the alleged dispute.

The number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in the Free State is nine, with the majority of those figures being in Bloemfontein.

OFM News