Photo: GCIS
Photo: GCIS
District officials in the Sarah Baartman Municipality have asked Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to impose tougher lockdown restrictions upon the region – like the ones put in place for NMB last week – as COVID-19 cases continue to rise sharply.
The request comes at a grim time for the region, which engulfs the entire Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. There have been a total of 15 853 COVID-positive cases here since the start of the pandemic, with 395 deaths recorded. However, it is the number of active cases – which has now shot above the 1 500 mark – that has spooked district officials.
On Thursday, Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation and revealed that NMB would be the first place in South Africa to get its own ‘localised’ lockdown laws. The tougher restrictions came into force on the same night, and the leaders of Sarah Baartman are actively campaigning to join their neighbours in tightening the screw. The new rules would cover:
During a public engagement on Wednesday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) would consider adding Sarah Baartman to their ‘hot-spot’ list. He said that people have been crossing over from NMB to go and ‘enjoy themselves’ in the bordering Municipality – but that could soon come to a halt:
“We must speed up testing in these areas. The Department of Health must identify more testing stations and encourage people to test. I’ve noted your recommendation that the curfew in Sarah Baartman be the same as it is in NMB, your request for alcohol sale restrictions will also be considered. I will take these to the NCCC for their recommendation.”
“I’ve also noted your recommendation that the public spaces be closed and although we understand that people want to go out in the festive season, we cant do that at the expense of people’s lives, so we will look into that at a higher level. With NMB people now coming into Sarah Baartman to have fun, this area may also get restrictions.”
Zweli Mkhize
Dr Mkhize-I have noted your recomendation that the curfew in Sarah Baartman be the same as it is in NMB and alchohol sale restrictions be the same too.I will take these to the national command council for recomendation. #sabcnews
— Lerato Fekisi (@LThipa) December 9, 2020