Chris Nissen, a commissioner with the South African Human Rights Commission, has condemned the City of Cape Town for fining homeless people while they are kept in a campsite in Strandfontein.

The site was set up by the city to house homeless people during the coronavirus lockdown. Brett Herron, a provincial parliament member, yesterday released images of a fine issued to a person at the camp for allegedly using foul language.

The site has become controversial after many homeless people complained about their treatment last week during a guided media tour of the facility.

On Saturday local media reported that an 18-year-old woman who had been raped by a 36-year-old man at the camp. The man was arrested and appeared in court. He was later released on bail.

Opposition parties and faith-based organisations have called on the national government to close the camp.