AFTER months of closure, due to the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, the heritage and recreational facilities across Durban are now open to the public.
The head of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, Thembinkosi Ngcobo said that all of the necessary safety precautions would be implemented.
“The City will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure safety precautions, such as social distancing and wearing a mask, are adhered to. Mandatory safety protocols have been put in place to minimise possible infections when accessing facilities. Reopening the facilities will be done in a phased approach, under stringent restrictions. Wearing a mask and a temperature check is compulsory,” he said.
Of the City’s 52 swimming pools, 22 have been opened to the public, including Lahee Park and Westville, as they have met all of the Covid-19 requirements.
The remainder of the pools are undergoing repairs and maintenance.
“The beach has been opened in phases for walking, jogging and surfing since lockdown level 3. Swimming is still prohibited and will only be allowed from 1 October. Shark safety nets are being installed by the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board,” said Ngcobo.
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Lifeguards, who service both the pools and beaches, are currently undergoing fitness training in preparation. Most of the City’s 95 libraries are now open. The Durban City Hall library will remain closed as it is currently being refurbished.
“The issuing of books is now permitted under strict protocols. Libraries will have a quarantine room for books that have been returned. They will remain there for 72 hours while restrictions are in place for the use of computer facilities,” said Ngcobo.
A limited number of people will be allowed into a library at a time. Sport facilities are also open. The majority of community halls are functioning, with attendance limitations.
All City museums, including the Natural Science Museum and Local History Museums, have met the required Covid-19 safety protocols and are open. A maximum number of 50 people may enter either of these facilities at any one time.
The art gallery, the uMngeni Bird Park and Mitchell Park Zoo are also now open to the public. All parks and nature reserves are now also open to the public, with gatherings at parks limited to a maximum of 50 people and social distancing must be maintained.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za). At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.
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