The mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina, has called upon the owners of all major retailers at Retail Park Boksburg and across the City of Ekurhuleni to protect their workers.
The mayor’s call for drastic majors to mitigate risks at the centre comes after a report on April 17 that a total of 25 employees at the shopping centre reportedly tested positive for coronavirus
“It is unacceptable that some frontline workers have still not been provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the nation-wide lockdown.
“I think it is now time for the Disaster Management Act be amended to include the provision of PPE for persons providing essential services in retail stores. Essential services cannot be provided to middle-class citizens at the expense and safety of workers.” said Masina in a statement.
After consulting with medical experts on the situation unfolding at Retail Park, the mayor proposed that the health-wise methodology be instituted at the centre and shopping centres across the City of Ekurhuleni.
The methodology includes the introduction of the following measures:
• All staff providing essential services at the Retail Park in Boksburg be provided with PPE, including respiratory masks, gloves and, sanitisers.
• Mass testing of all workers providing essential services in the centre takes place immediately.
• Routine medical surveillance be conducted by occupational medical practitioners at the premises.
• Daily situation reports at the Retail Park must be submitted to both local and provincial authorities.
“We hope that such an approach will be adopted by all retailers across the City of Ekurhuleni. The containment of Covid-19 in the City of Ekurhuleni is our top priority at the moment.
“We are doing our utmost best to ensure that the virus does not spread to our townships and informal settlements. The private sector must play its part in this effort as well,” added Masina.
The office of the mayor has written a letter to the management of the centre requesting the implementation of the health-wise approach across all tenants providing essential services on the premises.
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