COVID-19

27 May 2020

Municipalities in the Western Cape continue to implement wide ranging steps to address the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell, says the onset of winter further complicates the work being done and will bring additional challenges.

“Mass sanitising of public spaces is taking place on an ongoing basis, as is feeding schemes including soup kitchens, and all basic municipal services. Our emergency services and disaster centres remain fully operational and are on standby in the event of an emergency.”

Some of the latest efforts being done in some municipalities across the province includes:

• Mossel Bay Municipality is supporting private initiatives in distributing donated cloth face masks made to fit young children and taxi passengers.
• Cape Winelands District Municipality has partnered with Santam to develop Hotspot specific communication for the next 3 -6 months that will encompass various platforms. CWDM delivered 12 tons of agricultural produce to the local municipalities for distribution to the needy. This is the second distribution as a result of the partnership between, CWDM,  LG, Agri-Western Cape and Overberg District Municipality.
• From 1 June 2020, the Drakenstein Municipality Traffic Department will open its doors for licence renewals and registrations. From 1 July 2020 onwards, the system will be open for new applications. During June, the Municipality will attend to the backlog that was created by the national lockdown.
• Knysna Municipality has appointed a committee to consider ad hoc applications for payment relief received from local businesses and accommodation establishments in an effort to assist these entities during the ongoing crisis. Delaying rates and services charges as well as a possible reduction in municipal property rentals is also being considered.
• As part of the West Coast District Municipality’s COVID-19 Mitigation Strategy the disinfection of public spaces continues which include National, Provincial and Private owned buildings in support of interventions already in place by the building occupants. WCDM Executive Mayor, Alderman Harold Cleophas, and Council approved a financial contribution of R250 000 (R50 000 per local municipality in the district) to be utilized for humanitarian aid by the local municipalities. WCDM has procured the necessary PPE as prescribed in the direction issued by the Minister of Employment and Labour for all personnel.

Bredell has urged all citizens with questions or concerns or who wish to make a contribution in the ongoing struggle to visit the provincial website: www.westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus or to get in touch with their local municipalities for assistance.

“In addition, if you have flu-like symptoms, and may have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19, please contact the provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice on what to do next.”