The first positive Covid-19 case was recorded in the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) area last week, with the individual said to be currently in quarantine in an undisclosed location.
When the news broke last week, several Komani locals regarded the news as a rumour on social media, with some saying the case had not been included when the minister announced the number of new infections earlier in the week.
EMLM mayor Luleka Gubhula cleared the “rumour” when she addressed local media on Tuesday, confirming that an individual who was tested for the novel coronavirus locally was positive.
“The test was conducted in one of our health facilities and it returned positive. The individual has a history of international travel to four different countries. The countries to which they travelled are not named to ensure the anonymity of the person and to protect them from stigmatisation. However, we can reveal that the person is safe and in isolation.”
Gubhula also mentioned that those who are close to the individual were also tested and their results had been negative.
Spokesperson for the MEC for health, Judy Mpetsheni, also confirmed the positive coronavirus case, saying no further information on which town the individual was from would be revealed to protect them.
Gubhula spoke to the media following a meeting to establish a joint operations committee (Joc) made up of the local authority leadership, the administrative wing, government departments and other stakeholders including business forums and non-profit organisations.
“Sub-jocs will also be established at a ward level, of which councillors will also be part, so that we are able to disseminate important information via them. Councillors as community leaders have the right to close down spaza shops that do not adhere to rules and regulations as per the lockdown. We call on shop owners to ensure that customers implement social distancing.”
The mayor mentioned that on Tuesday, EMLM council whip Nombuyiselo Ndlebe and speaker Bongiwe van Heerden had to intervene when they saw a snaking queue outside the post office, with people standing close to each other.
“They went as far as approaching the post office officials to remind them to take responsibility for their customers and ensure they were sanitised. We asked some people to wait in the town hall so that those who were standing outside were able to implement social distancing.” This was confirmed by a statement from EMLM spokesperson, Lonwabo Kowa, who said there were plans to enhance safety around town.
Gubhula urged residents to regularly wash their hands and, most importantly, to observe the lockdown by staying at home.
Whether Komani residents heeded the mayor’s message is up for debate because queues were seen in several places in town on Monday as residents, many of them social grant recipients, braved the Covid-19 outbreak to access their money and buy essential goods. The queues stretched in front of the post office, banks, ATMs and supermarkets as a limited number of people was allowed to enter buildings. Siyabonga Njingala, who was standing in a line outside Protea Spar, said although he shared fears over the coronavirus, it was unnecessary to wait outside. “I understand why these measures are being taken, but I think it would not do great harm to let us all inside, rather than stand out here in the sun. We are standing close together so I do not see what is being resolved,” he said.
Protea Spar manager Wessel Erasmus said the store was following regulations that limited the number of shoppers per square meter. “From what we understood, we are allowed about 220 people. We are, however, letting in about 120 at a time. This is because of all the equipment we have inside and we think that would be the safest thing to do.”
For street vendor Baba July, the lockdown brings misery. July was anxious on Thursday as the rush in the CBD was starting to fade. At that time July was wondering if there would be any provision for people like her who had no stable income. She said she did not qualify for a social grant as selling fruit and snacks was her means of survival.
As a result, she said, she dreaded the lockdown as it meant no income for her.
“I have nothing. I depend on these few items I sell. My children are unemployed and also depend on me. This is how my family survives,” she said.
“I am hurt that no assistance was given, because I have no financial stability.”
As the lockdown took effect on Friday three men who made their living from washing cars with buckets were lurking around their spot hoping for customers. However, as expected, car owners were adhering to the new regulations. Ntsikelelo Mqikela said it would have been better if the government had arranged food parcels for them. Another car washer said: “This is an injury to my soul. I do not know what I will eat before I go to bed.”
