Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) has reported that nine people withing the municipality have tested positive.

This includes two cases from two GSDM satellite offices in Dipaleseng and Govan Mbeki municipal areas.

The municipality also indicated that speaker councillor Joshua Nkosi also tested positive for Covid-19.

“Councillor Nkosi informed the institution that upon noticing Covid-19 related symptoms, a Covid-19 test and self-isolation was undertaken and thereafter he received a positive result on 23 July.

Spokesman for the GSDM, Ms Bongi Ka Dube, said: “Members of the occupational Health and Safety unit of the Department of Health and employee health practioners are focused on monitoring and providing all necessary support including counselling to all those who are affected.

“We send our wishes of speedy recovery to all the affected.”

The main GSDM building in Ermelo remains closed and employees continue to work from home.

“We reiterate that essential services will not be affected,” Ms Ka Dube said.

The decontamination activities by the front-line workers (the Environmental Health Practitioners) within the GSDM building are on-going.

“We implore the community of the Gert Sibande District to remain calm, avoid panic and to keep safe during this time.

“We also encourage people to monitor themselves for any Covid-19 symptoms.

“Let us follow all safety measures as we continue to fight the spread of the virus. Together we can fight away the spread of COVID-19 in our society”