Message from the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Council Councillors
Joburg Councillors who recently tested positive for Covid-19 calls for collective community action to intensify the efforts of managing the outbreak, as the Johannesburg Region leads in the number of new cases of infection.
Gauteng has become once again the epicentre of Covid-19 in the country with over 75,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases. As of the 17 July 20 the Johannesburg region had the highest prevalence of the virus in the province, with over 24 600 people currently infected with the virus. Statistics also show that one in five people who have Covid-19 in Johannesburg are from Soweto, with over 5 110 active cases.
The Speaker of Council Cllr Molwele received a request from the Councillors who wished to go public in the hope that their action will contribute to the efforts aimed at mobilising community action. The councillors have been recovering and following the health professional advice.
They hope that by talking about their conditions they will assist in re-enforcing the message that the threat is real, that even the community leaders, servants of the people among us are not immune. The Speaker of Council supports their stance as this “virus knows no colour of a T-shirt, political affiliation, social status, religion or race and all of us in Johannesburg must do our bit to stem the tide”.
Our Councillors wish to remind all of us that currently there is no vaccine or cure. The effective way to address this challenge as the President emphasised, is all in our hands. Let us all adhere to the basics, and yet what could turn out to be lifesaving advice to: - Wear our Masks when going to public places - Wash our hands # Hlapa matsogo for at least 20 second - Keep social distance.
Speaker of Council together with the Councillors are urging all of us to support all those that are affected. To also refuse vigorously to accept the social stigma against those that have been infected or anyone perceived to have been in contact with the virus. “Blaming and shaming certain groups of people for a pandemic poses a threat to everyone”. Such behaviour negatively affects those with the disease, as well as their caregivers, family, friends, and communities.
Stigma can undermine social cohesion and prompt possible social isolation of groups, which might contribute to a situation where the virus is more, not less, likely to spread. This can result in more severe health problems as such action:
Drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination - Prevent people from seeking health care immediately - Discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours
Our councillors have expressed their commitment to use their experiences to provide advice and assistance to any community member who may be facing challenges related to Covid-19. The more people speak out the easier it would become for the community to come together in strengthening the efforts of managing the spread of this virus. In the coming weeks Madam Speaker will host a series of dialogue sessions with the councillors on the Weekly Speakers’ Covid-19 Education Virtual Platform as they reach out to the communities to raise awareness and encourage compliance to regulations and health advice.
“Let us join our hands together in this journey for the benefit of our communities”
Issued By:
COUNCILLOR NONCEBA MOLWELE
SPEAKER OF COUNCIL: CITY OF JOHANNESBURG METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY
