The Executive Mayor of Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) Councillor Muzi Chirwa has requested all hands on deck in supporting the South African Security Agency (Sassa) to ensure safety precautions are taken in the fight against the Coronavirus.
This is in the light of social grant payments for the elderly and people with disabilities which started yesterday.
Councillor Chirwa made this request during a virtual meeting of the District Command Council (DCC) on 4 May.
The GSDM and other stakeholders agreed to ensure that all Sassa pay-points observe social distancing and that awareness is intensified in encouraging the beneficiaries to exercise safety measures.
The DCC resolved that municipalities should provide chairs at Sassa pay-points to observe social distancing.
The DCC resolved to visit all Sassa pay-points to monitor progress and to increase awareness about Covid-19 to the elderly.
Councillor Chirwa visited the Badplaas Post Office on 5 May and described social distancing as the only armament in curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
He encouraged social grant beneficiaries at the facility and shoppers in the surrounding supermarkets to always keep a distance of at least 1.5m and also to appropriately cover their faces (mouths and noses).
Local councillors and GSDM Environmental Health Practitioners joined Councillor Chirwa during the visit, which he undertook in his capacity as the Chairperson of District Covid-19 Command Council.
They also provided hand sanitisers to the social grant beneficiaries and urged them to frequently wash their hands with water and soap.
GSDM continues to support the local municipalities with deep cleansing and sanitization of public facilities.
Today a batch of sanitisers will be distributed to the local municipalities to fight against the spread of Covid-19.
GSDM urges the public to be safe, respect the Covid-19 regulations, practise hygiene and observe social distancing
