Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo will ensure that parks are opened by 15 July to allow residents to keep fit and healthy by exercising close to their homes.
MMC for Community Development Margaret Arnolds said that park users are urged to be cautious and vigilant at all times by adhering to the following 10 mandatory requirements:
- It is compulsory to wear a mask in public spaces at all times.n Practice social distancing of a minimum of three metres apart.
- Picnics, events or gatherings are strictly prohibited.n Ensure that hands are washed and sanitised before entering a City Parks facility.
- Exercise only with persons within your household which are limited to a maximum of five people in a group.n Refrain from using the ablution facilities and the playgrounds.
- Remind children that the use of the gym and play equipment is prohibited.
- Take all disposables home, including empty bottles and paper cups.
- Leave all valuables at home to avoid opportunistic crime.
- Abide by the public open spaces by-laws in place.
Arnolds cautioned residents that the onus to prevent the spread of the virus remained in the hands of every user. “Common sense must prevail. If you are feeling unwell; self-isolating or if there are too many users in the park, then protect yourself and your loved ones by staying safely at home,” she urged.
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo staff have been affected by Covid-19 infections, which resulted in various depots being temporarily closed to enable operational and security staff to self-isolate, while the necessary decontamination processes of depots were undertaken. The phasing-in of the opening of conservation areas and nature reserves is due to scarce resources and the need for employees to be issued with proper personal protection. Park-users are urged to carry their sanitiser and to refrain from sitting on the benches, utilise the gym-equipment and ablution facilities or depositing refuse in park bins.
Arnolds appealed to residents for compliance and support, “The Presidency has heard your call to reopen parks, particularly for residents who do not have access to exercising outdoors. The responsibility, therefore, to exercise with caution, lies in the hands of every individual.”Nature reserves, including The Wilds, Kloofendal and Klipriviersberg nature reserves and the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens will be opened from 1 August to allow for a phased-in approach due to limited resources.
