The Government of Local Unity has requested Izinduna from different hostels in Johannesburg to cooperate with the City in creating awareness of the perils of the Covid-19 pandemic and help enforce compliance with regulations of the 21-day lockdown.
The Executive Mayor, Cllr Geoff Makhubo and senior politicians from the metro visited various densely populated areas of Johannesburg over the weekend, including the Denver, George Gosh and Jeppe hostels to ramp up the enforcement of public health orders in light of the rapidly spreading coronavirus.
During the oversight visit, City bosses found there was a need to intensify educational awareness of the 21-day lockdown and to enforce laws related to the sale of liquor.
“In all three hostels, the City’s political leadership found residents converged in groups of more than 100 with complete disregard of social distancing,” Cllr Makhubo explains.
According to amended regulations of the State of Disaster, during the 21-day lockdown – designed to curb further transmissions of Covid-19 – the transportation and sale of liquor is strictly prohibited and spaza shops and supermarkets are only allowed to trade-in essential goods.
Mayor Makhubo says the City, working with its entities and stakeholders will increase compliance measures in densely populated areas to prevent contraventions of the Disaster Management Act, which governs the 21-day lockdown.
He says the City will continue to provide waste removal, water and sanitation services, and escalate efforts to create awareness of the dangers of the coronavirus.
Last week the City went on an extensive drive to clean and sanitise major taxi ranks and bus stops in the Johannesburg CBD in an effort to protect commuters from the pandemic. The municipality has also availed healthcare facilities to screen patients for Covid-19 in case of a wider outbreak and is inspecting buildings to be used as quarantine centres.
“The City, working with the provincial and national government, will continue to enforce compliance, engage communities where there is non-compliance and assist our people to be safe and protected,” Cllr Makhubo concludes
Residents can contact the City’s 24-hour Joint Operations Disaster Management Centre (JODMC) on 010 224 0934 with any emergencies or to locate clinics made available for Covid-19 screening during the country’s national state of disaster. People who want to donate hand sanitizers, masks and soups are urged can also contact the centre.
In addition, the municipality is working with the Gauteng Department of Social Development to ensure homeless people are housed, fed and secured during the 21-day lockdown. “The Government of Local Unity humbly asks residents to support the City in its efforts to take care of the homeless during this lockdown period.”
Written by Takalani Sioga
