Superheroes come out at night

LYDENBURG – After 19:00, when businesses are closed and families are safe at home, eight men work tirelessly to disinfect the town.

The team of Rapid Response and its volunteers have been gearing up every night for the past four nights to spray and sanitise the town, its streets, pavements and parking areas.

Deon Broekman and his hazmat team were appointed by Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM) to ensure the safety of residents through disinfecting Lydenburg, Sabie and Graskop.

TCLM was awarded thousands of litres of disinfectant by the Ehlanzeni District Municipality for the sole purpose of sanitising the towns in TCLM’s regional district.

According to Themba Sibiya, communications manager of TCLM, during any disaster, Ehlanzeni takes charge and use its procurement to assist municipalities.

“It is TCLM’s role to implement these strategies and hence we are using the resources (sanitation liquid) provided to optimally combat the spread of Covid-19.”

The team started with the widespread disinfection the entire SAPS, municipal, and Magistrate’s Court buildings as well as both of Lydenburg Hospital’s EMS ambulances.

On Tuesday night, Steelburger/Lydenburg News accompanied the team when it sanitised all main streets and walkways in town.

According to Broekman, the sanitiser lasts for seven days and can only be used when it is cool at night to prevent evaporation.

The product is first mixed with water from hydrants in town. From there it is pumped with a generator to mist spray nozzles connected to the front and back of Rapid Response’s fire truck.

The truck then sprays all streets and pavements while driving through town. While the truck fumigates the roads, the team sprays the pavements, shopping areas and other non-driveable sites in town.

More than 2 500 litres of sanitiser has been used thus far.

After Lydenburg has been completed, the team will move to Sabie and Graskop.