WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Western Cape Disaster Management Joint Operation Centre (JOC) has been tasked to coordinate high visibility enforcement of COVID-19 regulations to help slow down the spread of the virus in the Western Cape.
The JOC, which has ongoing linkages to regional joint operations centres across the province, is best placed to coordinate law enforcement efforts led by the SAPS, says Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell in a media statement.
" The JOC has a direct link to the SAPS, as well as municipal law enforcement (including Traffic Law Enforcement), environmental health practitioners in the Western Cape and the Department of Labour. It will look at enforcing the existing disaster management regulations.
“The move to stronger enforcement comes as a result of the growing number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations in the province. Over the last week alone, the province has witnessed a 52.1% jump in new cases, primarily in the Garden Route and the Cape Metro regions.”
Bredell says enforcement will be carried out in a coordinated approach in the Province whereby South African Police, Local Law Enforcement, Environmental Health Practitioners and Department of Labour will coordinate joint and regular inspections of places of work, entertainment venues public gatherings, isolation and quarantine sites.
'Help prevent lockdown'
Bredell has reiterated Premier Alan Winde’s request that citizens and visitors to the province must help prevent a lockdown and help ensure that there are enough empty beds in our hospitals for those who need them over the coming months.
“We can control the situation through our own actions. We have to do everything possible to ensure that we do not get infected by COVID-19 and that we do not spread COVID-19. The virus is not gone but will be with us over the holidays and beyond. People are urged to strictly adhere to Covid health protocols including social distancing, wearing of masks and regular sanitising.
Do not attend large gatherings unless it is critical to do so. We are concerned about events like Black Friday over the coming weekend and the possibility of crowding in small enclosed spaces and insufficient sanitising. This is a real risk for spreading the virus.”
Report violations of regulations
Members of the public, businesses and other organisations may report violations of COVID-19 protocols in the following manners:
* Using the online complaint form available here.
* Dial *134*234# to report non-compliance of public transport
* For COVID-19 health related queries, the provincial COVID-19 toll-free hotline number is 080 928 4102
* For general queries, the Western Cape Government's contact centre can be reached on 0860 142 142
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