[ad_1]
By Tanya Waterworth 
1h ago
Residents of the upscale suburb said they had noticed that there appeared to be guests staying at Signature Guest House during the first week of closure.
According to the closing regulations, hotels, cabins and guest houses must be closed “except to the extent that the remaining tourists are confined to them.”
The matter came to a head on Wednesday night when a man was heard on the B&B property saying that his nose was bleeding and that he was “dying.”
“Our local WhatsApp group discussed whether the B&B was an isolation center or a quarantine facility,” said one resident in the area.
“I was watching television on Wednesday night when I heard moans outside. I could hear it coming from the B & B property, there was a guy who said “I can’t breathe”.
“It sounded terrible and said” I’m bleeding from the nose. ”
“I could hear that another guy was trying to calm him down. It was hectic, I was quite shocked. I heard the second guy say “lie down, lie down” and then I heard the approaching sirens, “said the resident.
Another resident said: “I received a call from my neighbor, there was someone in massive distress on the property (B&B). There was much crying and moaning. A man said “I am bleeding from the nose, I am dying.” It continued for about an hour. Why are people even there?
He said an ambulance arrived at the facility and the distressed man was taken away.
Both residents asked that their names be withheld.
The manager of the guesthouse, who also did not want to be identified, said that the people staying at the guesthouse were American tourists who were already there when the closure was announced.
He sent his essential services certificate to The Independent on Saturday, which confirmed that the guesthouse was classified in the “Hotels, Accommodation, Quarantine and Isolation” category.
He said the guests at the establishment were not under quarantine.
“I have nothing to hide. There are American guests staying here who were unable to leave due to the blockade. I also have family members staying here, including my elderly parents. I have been approved as an essential services business during the closing period. .
“The incident on Wednesday night was related to one of our guests who had an epileptic fit and called an ambulance,” he said.
He added that the vehicles had been in and out of the property because he was also supplying hand sanitizer to the eThekwini disaster management effort.
Residents who heard the man cry on Wednesday night said they did not detect an American accent.
Local community activist Nicky Burke said the guesthouses that continued to operate during the shutdown should have notified local residents about it.
“The rules of law apply and the necessary protocols must be established. If a guest house is still used, the owners should have notified the neighbors.
“Owners must have all protocols and controls in place for the safety of everyone involved during the closing.
“While most people are responsible, I have received a number of complaints from residents about people who violate blockade regulations. This also includes domestic workers and gardeners who have continued to work.
“There are also homeless people roaming the streets who shouldn’t be away from home. The public should be alerted not to give them money as meals are available for the homeless in closed shelters, “he said.
eThekwini Municipality did not respond to requests for confirmation and comments about the Signature Guesthouse that remained in operation and under what premise, nor to a request to clarify how many B&B establishments remained operational in the city.
The Independent on Saturday
[ad_2]
