Photo: Screenshot from Apple Maps.
Kliprand: Isolated town placed under quarantine needs food and water
The entire town of Kliprand in the Western Cape is under quarantine after half its households recorded a COVID-19 case. The community is appealing for help and needs food and water.
Photo: Screenshot from Apple Maps.
The tiny town of Kliprand in the Matzikama Municipality – nearly 500 kilometres outside Cape Town – is in crisis. The entire town, which is home to about 250 people, or 50 households, was placed under quarantine after approximately 10% of the population tested positive for COVID-19.
The isolated community, which has been cut off from the outside world is appealing for help and needs food, water and basic supplies. A local principal is helping to coordinate relief efforts, according to reports.
KLIPRAND CUT-OFF
According to SABC News, the Kliprand community managed to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic for 15 months. However, once the virus entered the rural town the situation escalated rapidly – in a week 30 infections and three deaths were recorded. A town-wide quarantine was imposed to halt the spread. It is estimated that approximately half of the households have a positive case.
“We have limited resources at the moment and this makes it more difficult to cope with,” said Arrie Cloete, a local primary school principal, to SABC News.
“So, if there’s anyone outside who can help us, with any resources, anything, you’re welcome and our community members at the moment they are a bit scared because they do not know what will happen next.”
Cloete added that the Kliprand community is terrified because of the uncertainty around the virus and the three fatal cases already recorded in the town.
SHOPS CLOSED, QUARANTINE DIFFICULT
Most of the community lives in small RDP houses, which is proving to be a challenge in terms of quarantine. The nearest town, Vredendal, is 150 kilometres away and the closest isolation centre is even further.
A local reverend, Pedro Oktober, from Vredendal told the SABC that the community is doing their best to help Kliprand.
“The only shop there is closed, the soup kitchen is closed… the community is in dire need of food and water,” said Oktober.
Kliprand residents need help and are contactable via Facebook. A cursory search reveals that many Samaritans, such as the South African Water Warriors group, on social media have begun coordinating relief efforts amongst themselves.
