EMFULENI. – The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) State of  the Municipality Address (SoMA) due to take place on Friday, June 18 has been postponed till further notice.

This is subsequent to ELM Mayor Gift Moerane having gone into quarantine after he was notified that three Department of Water and Sanitation officials with whom had contact tested positive for Covid-19.

Mayoral Spokesperson Lebo Mofokeng says, “After receiving the notification, the Executive Mayor undertook Covid-19 tests and immediately went to quarantine while awaiting the results.

“There were some Members of the Mayoral Committee (MAYCO) and officials that have also been in contact with the infected officials from Department of Water and Sanitation and they have been advised to follow the World Health Organisation (WHO) Covid-19 protocol.

“After careful consideration and consultation, the Executive Mayor decided to postpone the planned State of Municipal Address till further notice.

Mofokeng said that Emfuleni had been declared as an epicentre by the Gauteng Covid-19 Command Council after places such as Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Evaton, Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark saw a spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases during the last few weeks.

“The Executive Mayor urges all Emfuleni residents to observe all health protocols.”