Residents ‘unable’ to follow protocols

As the festive season came to an end and the second Covid-19 wave hit harder, tighter regulations for the safe keeping of the country was inevitable.

A week ago, when President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation, he placed it onto an adjusted level 3 lockdown and pin pointed hotspot areas which included the Ugu District.

This took several South Coast locals by surprise, while others saw it coming, stating that with the total disregard to precautionary measures by some, and the number of people travelling between provinces, it was bound to happen.

“The mid-South Coast is a small area and we are starting to notice Covid-19 claim the lives of familiar faces and making them part of its death stats,” said a concerned Park Rynie local on social media.

President Ramaphosa has stressed the importance of regular sanitising/washing of hands, wearing masks and practicing social distancing, but for some in the mid-South Coast, it is almost impossible to adhere to these simple regulations because of unforeseen circumstances.

Residents from Scottburgh, Park Rynie, Umzinto and surrounding areas spent most of their festive season waterless.

More specifically around the Christmas and New Year period, many had their water supply cut off either for the duration of an entire day or half a day and, aside from the basics such as using water to cook, bath or even drink, this had people questioning how they could follow protocol and wash their hands as a precautionary measure.

Another local and social media user stated that not everyone can afford sanitisers so they relied on water.

With regards to social distancing, many have witnessed this being ignored, especially in public places.

Before the President’s address, people both local and from out of town flocked to the beaches in their numbers with most not making use of personal protective equipment.

Now that all public beaches, swimming pools and public parks are closed, one would think that the matter has been resolved, but it has instead rather now put focus on other matters in the area which need to be addressed such as at the Scottburgh Post Office.

During this lockdown period, many have seen queues of people outside the post office waiting to collect grants as well as the conditions in which these people have to queue.

Not everyone uses a mask and social distancing is out of the question because of an insufficient waiting area outside the post office.

On many occasions, the queues have stretched onto the road because there is just not enough space, and even if people stand in close proximity to one another.

Some locals have questioned why nothing is happening to these people failing to adhere to protocol by not practicing social distancing or wearing masks in public which is now compulsory, while others have empathised and stated that they understand that this is what some people have to do to sustain themselves.

Previously, a tent was pitched for people to sit under and wait for their grants, but that seems to have stopped in the last couple of weeks.

Locals ask that something be done to help these people wait for their much-needed money in proper and safer conditions to ensure that the
Ugu District is doing all that it can to flatten the curve once again.

Some of the suggestions by locals included guards ensuring mask usage and social distancing and that shelter be provided.

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