GEORGE NEWS - The danger lurking in townships during the Covid-19 lockdown is of great concern to opposition party councillors in George.
The councillors feel there are shortcomings in the municipal communication regarding the dangers of coronavirus.
They are also worried that there are insufficient water points and that the lockdown regulations are not being enforced.
The councillors asked George Herald to attend an open-air meeting at the municipal parking lot after they were denied access to the building. They voiced their anxieties about leadership and said that the Covid-19 message is not reaching the townships.
However, Garden Route head of Disaster Management Gerhard Otto said the local Covid-19 coordination effort is one of the best in the country.
"Every morning at 10:00 all the municipal managers of the district communicate directly using technology during our Joint Opperation Centre meeting. Here we are able to discuss all the issues of importance and I am glad to report that up to now we have not had one single case of Covid-19 in the informal settlements."
He told George Herald that on Tuesday, George Municipality also formed its own 24/7 coordination platform. He admitted that it is difficult to get the message about the dangers of the virus across to all the residents of informal settlements, but said that most of the community members are working together to fight this disease.
"Living in a shack makes your circumstances more difficult than living in an ordinary neighbourhood. We will have to de-densify. There will come a time when we will have to put people in isolation and in quarantine," said Otto.
He said the De Hoek resort and Calitzdorp Spa have been approved by the Garden Route District Municipality as quarantine centres for people infected with the coronavirus who cannot self-isolate.
"Venues for isolation centres are also being identified. Should there be overflow at hospitals, a field hospital will also be established in George. We are making work of this as we speak."
Leadership
Virgill Gericke, leader of the PBI, demands more leadership. "Cars are overloaded, taxis are full to the brim. The head of traffic has been suspended for more than five months. The Municipal Manager must make a call and the Acting Mayor, Charlotte Clarke, must step up to the crisis. She must listen to and support all councillors."
ANC Chief Whip Nomawethu Jantjies-Gushman said opposition parties should get credit for their role in ensuring that electricity supply isn't blocked and that extra toilets and water points are being supplied in poor communities.
Charlie Williams of the ANC said although the municipality went about townships with loudhailers spreading the lockdown regulations, it is not enough. Langa Langa, also of the ANC, said you can't treat areas such as Rosemoor, Thembalethu and Pacaltsdorp the same as other neighbourhoods in town.
"I do believe the people in townships don't take this seriously because the pressure of Law Enforcement is not so high. We are not grandstanding, we are worried. There is no time to play politics. This is the time for leadership."
Wilbur Harris of Icosa thanked the business sector for joining hands with George Municipality and for their donations. "We call on the municipality to urgently collect and distribute these goods to the needy communities. We also appeal to the community to adhere to the rules and assist local authorities."
All opposition councillors expressed their gratitude towards municipal departments that deliver, and thanked them for their efforts.
From left are ANC Chief Whip Nomawethu Jantjies-Gushman, Virgill Gericke (PBI), Langa Langa (ANC), Khumbulelo Mkhondo (AIC), Vuyolwethu Kama (EFF), Charlie Williams (ANC) and Wilbur Harris (Icosa). Photo: Michelle Pienaar
Use the channels
A notice was issued by Municipal Manager Trevor Botha on Tuesday appealing to everyone to submit their problems and queries through the standard channels, to being dealt with by officials and departments.
Municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Close said the directorates and officials have been working around the clock to implement a number of measures to curb the spread of this pandemic, as stipulated through the national directives.
"Councillors and the public are urged to adhere to the lockdown regulations and note that George Municipality will not entertain any requests for gatherings or meetings, in line with the State of Emergency and lockdown amended regulations, which determine that municipalities may not convene, nor allow, any meeting to take place on its premises, other than those allowed by law, such as Command Centre meetings, as issued by the President of South Africa."
Edwards-Klose said the regulations cannot be applied selectively and George Municipality will abide by the law.
"Our emergency services, social services and protection services officials are working strictly in conjunction with our district, provincial and national disaster centres. Again, the use of politics, badgering and posturing by some of the political parties is proving to be counter-productive and a hindrance to the work being done."
Lockdown works
Otto said he thinks it will take about 12 to 14 weeks to flatten the Covid-19 curve. "I cannot speak on behalf of South Africa, but the lockdown is working in the Garden Route."
George Herald has removed the details of George Municipality’s Covid-19 plan, as much of it is already dated due to continuing developments in the situation.
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Group Editors (publications and online platforms) is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
