Residents prepare for the remaining lockdown days
Despite it being April Fool’s day and the long queues that were present, residents were more concerned about purchasing enough food to last them for the remainder of the week during the national lockdown.
Residents of Daveyton, Kingsway, Cloverdene, and Lindelani came in numbers to the Sesfikile Square to collect their grants, to access cash, and to shop for their essential goods on April 1.
Despite it being April Fool’s day and the long queues that were present, residents were more concerned about purchasing enough food to last them for the remainder of the week during the national lockdown. Some were only finishing up what is left of their savings, and more of them were worried about the effects of the Covid-19 numbers that are increasing daily.
James Hassan, a Cloverdene resident, is not finding it easy to make ends meet during this national state of emergency.
I came here to get some food, but I do not have enough money. Even during the upcoming days of the lockdown it will be difficult to survive. Now that I have stopped working, I will not have any money for the following month. I am not sure what will happen to me after the lockdown.”
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April 1 was one of the days that was declared by the President as a day when social grant beneficiaries were allowed to go and collect their money. They were also allowed to get essential goods, and taxis were allowed to operate for longer hours than what was initially implemented for the 21-day lockdown period.
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I have been here from 10am. The service is slow, and some people left for home because of frustration, but I am here to get these essential goods to last me till things are back to normal. Hopefully they will not extend the days due to the increasing numbers of infected people.
“I am also worried about these lines because people are so close to each other and there is not much social distancing,” said Venessa Nkuna, a Kingsway resident.
Cindy Shabangu, a Daveyton resident, was one of the people who had to queue longer to get what she needed. She said that the lockdown situation is not easy for her, but she understands that they are trying to protect people from contacting the virus.
I am here to buy basic food, and the things that I will need for the upcoming days. I just wish that this can end without turning into a catastrophe, It is not easy for me financially because of this, but I am positive that things will be back to normal soon.”
In the hope that the coronavirus stops infecting people at a larger scale, life for most Benoni residents is filled with challenges and complications, and fear of the deadly pandemic.
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