Ekuthuleni informal settlement residents concerned about the possible spread of Covid-19
The concerns are residents having to share communal water taps and toilets and families being cramped in a one-or two- room shack.
KwaThema – The continued spread of Covid-19 is causing panic amongst Ekuthuleni informal settlement residents.
The concerns are residents having to share communal water taps and toilets and families being cramped in a one-or two- room shack.
Resident Lindiwe Hadebe says she is living in fear.
“Our main problem is we share water. People do not necessarily wash their hands when they come to fetch water.
“Hundreds of people use these taps, which means we can easily get sick.
“My family and I try by all means to stay protected, we wash our hands but unfortunately we are using the plastic basins.
“So far, the metro hasn’t communicated to us how they will be assisting us and as a mother of two children I cannot help but worry,” says Hadebe.
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Residents say not much has been done to educate them about the virus and measures they need to implement.
“We need an intervention because should the virus hit informal settlements then it won’t be containable and unfortunately, with the poor health system people are going to die.
“We are scared as it is, the numbers keeping on going up each and every day.
“Also, I think that information should be made available in all official languages to guarantee that there’s understanding amongst the people,” says community safety committee member Whiskey Mohlala.
Councillor Thulani Simelane says residents do not need to panic.
“We are already in talks with clinics in the ward to identify what measures they are putting in place to tackle the virus, should we have any cases.
“We are distributing pamphlets to ensure that people have the necessary information, some of these pamphlets will be made available at local clinics as well.
“We have three informal settlements in the ward Mkhanqwa, Ekuthuleni and Never Never, which you will find a family of five sharing one toilet. We have reported the matter to the mayor for assistance and are still awaiting a response,” says Simelane.
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