Covid-19: Polokwane Municipality closes municipal sport and recreational facilities

POLOKWANE – In light of the ever increasing number of positive cases of coronavirus, Covid-19, the Polokwane Municpality will implement the closure of all municipal sport and recreational facilities, among others.

Read more: Polokwane Municipality implements measures to combat spread of COVID-19

In line with the Government Gazette No. 43107 issued on Wednesday, 18 March and the regulations issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in terms of section 27 (2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 and the health protocols detailed by the Minister of Health, the municipality will implement extra measures to ensure social distancing and prevent the risk of transmission, says Municipal spokesman, Thipa Selala.

These temporary measures will be implemented with immediate effect and include:

• Suspension of Council corporate calendar activities except in exceptional situations where the meetings will be managed to ensure compliance;
• Suspension of all municipal staff meetings except under extreme emergency, which involves critical service delivery;
• There will be controlled access to all municipal offices. Members of the public who wish to communicate with the municipality are encouraged to do so telephonically or through the emails;
• Suspension of certain services at the traffic centre. There will be stringent control measures in terms of access. Selala said a detailed statement will be issued;
• All the municipal swimming pools in Seshego, Westenburg and the Town Pool will be closed;
• Closure of all municipal sport and recreational facilities including all parks and community halls;
• Closure of museums such as Polokwane Art Museum, Bakone Malapa, Irish House, and Photographic museum;
• Partial closure of all libraries. There will be stringent control measures in terms of access. Only members borrowing and returning books at the libraries will be allowed access;
• Suspension of all housing beneficiary registrations at Itsoseng;
• Suspension of municipal gatherings or contact sessions of more than 100 people;
• Cancellation of briefing meetings for tenders. Please note that closing dates for tender submission are still valid unless an extension is published;
• Cancellation of all bookings for municipal facilities by either internal or external stakeholders.

Funerals

Selala added that in the case of funerals the municipality will allocate time to each bereaved family to access the cemeteries. “All burials will be allocated a maximum of one-hour interval; and the time will be allocated on first-come-first-serve basis as from 09:30. Affected families are encouraged to observe recommended hygiene practices and limit the number of mourners to family members or restrict the mourners to not more than 100. The maximum number of mourners to have access to cemeteries is 100 per funeral.”

Bereaved families are urged to contact the municipality at 015 290 2246. ALternatively they can contact either Edward Hutamo at 083 824 9872, Disego Machete at 083 671 9917, Leonard Chuene for Silicon Cemetery at 083 665 6144, Phalama Mamabolo for Mankweng Cemetery at 076 162 9028 and Mackson Setjie for Seshego Cemetery at 067 160 5532.

Municipal payments

All municipal rates halls include the Civic Centre in the city, Traffic Centre, Seshego, Mankweng and Sebayeng will operate on strict access control. The municipality, therefore encourages  consumers to make use of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Easypay for payments.

The due date for payment of services is the 25 of each month and consumers are encouraged to pay in time to avoid termination of their services. Accounts can be viewed on the municipal website. A detailed statement will be issued.

Selala said the above-mentioned facilities will remain closed until further notice. Essential services will continue as normal.