Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) yesterday informed residents via a public service announcement that all Libraries, Community halls, Swimming pools, Stadiums, Sport Centers and Community parks will be closed from December 22 until further notice.

According to ELM this is to prevent mass gatherings which aid the rapid spread of Covid-19.

This decision is welcomed by many residents, including Councillor Phillip Nothnagel of Emfuleni’s Ward 5, who requested ELM last week to consider closing facilities known for large gathering during the festive time. One such a hotspot is Phoenix Park (Trimpark) in SE2, which forms part of Ward 5.

In his letter to ELM, Councillor Nothnagel recommended closing the park during the Festive time as it has the potential of drawing lots of visitors which can eventually lead to “super-spreader events”.

Councillor Nothnagel motivated his request as follows:
* Gatherings of people at outdoor facilities are limited to 250 persons. – Due to the fact that the Trimpark is not fenced in it will be impossible to monitor and enforce the numbers of people visiting the park. Experience from previous festive seasons has shown that the number of visitors easily exceed a thousand if not more persons.
The Gazette only allows National and Provincial parks where control measures and entry limitations are already in place to remain open to the public. The President also clearly stated that “In instances where there are large crowds or poor compliance with safety measures beaches and recreational areas will be closed.”
* Wearing of masks. – South Africans will be required to wear masks in any public open space. This regulation will be impossible to enforce and observation of people queuing for grants and images on National TV proves this. TV Cleary indicates that the public ignores this.
* Social distancing of 1.5 meters between persons will be impossible to control.
* The consumption of liquor in public spaces is not permitted. – It will be impossible for the Bylaw officials or the SAPS to check and control the consumption of liquor in the park. I guarantee that liquor will be brought and consumed in vast quantities at the Park. Experience has taught us that by early afternoon we will have a vast number of intoxicated individuals at the park, who will simply keep on partying well after closing hours of 18:00 and tend to get quite agitated and threatening when approached.
“We would therefor request ELM to urgently advise the public that the park will be closed. A Senior Police Officer has also advised that the Park be closed.
We do not want Phoenix Park to become a “super spreader event” and for Emfuleni to be declare a COVID19 hotspot, which will be disastrous for our already battered economy.”

* Additional to the potential for spreading the virus, Councillor Nothnagel also reminded ELM of problems experienced in previous years, such as loud music during gatherings in the park, as well as limited parking space, which has lead to visitors parking on residents’ pavements, sometimes even blocking their driveways.

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