Covid-19: Greenstone and Modderfontein ward councillor wraps up for week 1 of lockdown
Nkomo said he received several concerns and questions around the freedom of movement, specifically within gated communities.
Council recently withdrew employees considered to be at a high risk of catching the Covid-19 virus which has since sent the country into lockdown.
This was revealed when Ward 32 Clr Bongani Nkomo shared his take on the first week of the lockdown and its affects on Greenstone and Modderfontein residents.
Nkomo said there were some challenges faced by the council, specifically around service delivery.
Also read: Covid-19: WARNING: Criminals pretending to be WHO officials want your money
“It is vital that service delivery continues uninterrupted as far as humanly possible. However, in such an extreme situation council prioritised the well-being of its staff.
“All employees on chronic medication and those over the age of 50 were withdrawn from work. This is ultimately going to drastically affect turnaround times and efficiency,” said the councillor.
Another challenge faced by residents was a basic understanding of what lockdown will entail for every day living.
“The major challenge experienced by residents was firstly understanding what ‘lockdown’ meant for their everyday lives and the uncertainty around daily routines.”
Nkomo said he received several concerns and questions around the freedom of movement, specifically within gated communities.
“For instance, could they still go on their daily run, could they still walk their dogs and when is it permissible to go to the shops?”
Regardless of the initial confusion, the councillor said residents have complied with lockdown laws.
“I am yet to receive any complaints coming from Greenstone and Modderfontein.”
Based on Nkomo’s visit to the local shops and his interactions with the staff on duty he gathered that there was an initial element of panic buying.
“The stores seem to have managed this by putting limiting measures in place.”
Nkomo shared some insights on his expectation of residents for the remaining lockdown days.
Nkomo’s words to the community for the next week of lockdown were, ‘misery is optional’.
“This is the biggest test that we as a community have come across. We need to stick together and remain positive more than ever.”
Nkomo said this is an opportunity for all of residents to demonstrate leadership.
He also added that it takes 21 days to develop a habit.
“Let the habits that we develop during this time be positive ones, such as kindness. Let us be kind to ourselves and those around us.”
How residents can survive lockdown according to Ward 32 Clr Bongani Nkomo:
1. Remain calm; life does not have to come to a standstill.
2. Plan a daily routine that will keep you both physically and mentally stimulated.
3. Read as much as you can.
4. Sign up for an online course.
5. Read up on different ways to keep fit.
6. Verify information before digesting or panicking.
7. Report any activity that is in contravention of the lockdown.
8. When shopping, consider the next person and buy responsibly.
9. Take care of yourselves and those around you by following the official advice on washing hands, identifying symptoms and strengthening your immune system.
10. You can make use of the Ward 32 Covid 19 advice group, which has been created on Telegram.
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. Caxton Local Media 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.
