Lockdown: here is where you can buy your essentials in Mokopane
The announcement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday that the country will be locked down from midnight (Thursday), was welcomed by the Mokopane Chamber of Business.
MOKOPANE – “We believe and trust it will save many lives.”
They added that the public and businesses need to work together during this crisis period. “We realise it will be extremely difficult for small businesses to make a living through the period. We suggest that businesses give their staff their three-week annual leave with payment so that they have the funds at their disposal for necessary goods. After the three weeks as our country and world normalise again, we must cooperate to stop tender fraud so that our country can recover to its full glory.”
Lipson Gwangwa, Sales Manager of Pick n Pay Mokopane, said that the store will be open from 07:00 to 08:00 for pensioners only and proof of identification must be provided to ensure that the resident who enters is a valid pensioner.
Thereafter the store will open from 08:00 until 19:00 for the remainder of residents. “The rest of the week will be normal trading hours starting from 08:00 to 19:00. The store will be open on Saturdays from 08:00 to 19:00 and Sundays from 08:00 to 15:00,” said Gwangwa as he explained that queues will be managed by markers on the floor that will create a distance of 2 meters between customers. Posters will be visible to ensure that residents understand the procedure. The management team urges residents to utilise the sanitisers that are available at the doors.
Clicks Head Office also implemented new trading hours that will take effect during the lockdown period. Mokopane Clicks will be open on weekdays from 07:00 to 19:00, while they will be open on Saturdays from 08:00 to 17:00 and Sundays from 09:00 to 15:00.
Owner of Nylpark Mini Market, Renier van Vuuren said that unless government implements trading hours, Nylpark will be open from 06:30 to 20:30.
He stated that although the store is not as crowded as bigger retail stores, they have implemented safety measures. He promises that freshly baked bread will be available daily.
The Crossing Mall will assist clients as Woolworths, Checkers, Nedbank, Game and Watts Pharmacy will be open during the lockdown period.
By the time of going to print, opening and closing hours were not yet confirmed. “We do not expect a terrible rush,” said Charmain Gouveia, Manager of the Crossing.
Marinus Hornsveld, pharmacist, told Bosveld that Waterberg Pharmacy will be open on weekdays from 08:00-20:00, Saturdays from 08:00-13:00 and again 17:00-20:00 and Sundays 10:00-12:30 and the evening from 17:00-20:00.
They have taken precaution to keep their employees safe by implementing a save distance between clients and the staff. “Everyone who enters will be sanitised at the door,” he says. Cashiers’ hands are also regularly sanitised, counters are wiped.
Safety and Security
Special Operations Solutions Manager, Quinton Pretorius, said that while they understand the seriousness of the announcement, all customers can be assured that they will continue to support community members 24 hours a day should there be an emergency.
Additional safety measurements are currently being implemented.
Staff members that are dependent on public transport will now be transported with company vehicles which will undergo a sanitising process after each trip.
“We also have a digital thermometer that will be used to measure worker’s temperature before they report for duty, should they show any symptoms, they will be sent home,” added Pretorius.
He urges community members to join emergency social media platforms to stay up to date with your surroundings and to have a network of people to contact in case of an emergency.
For any emergency or information on the social media platforms, contact (015) 409 7062.
Suricat Armed Response will be open during the 21-day lockdown, for the safety of our community.
They invite the community to contact them during this lockdown period.
“We provide the community with excellent Armed Response since 1994.”
Contact numbers as follows: (015) 491 3062, (015) 491 2080, 015 491 5612, (015) 491 1283, (015) 409 7044 or 072 451 3770.
For any emergency assistance contact Salome at Protoscape ambulance services at 079 886 9990.
Please note that all essential services will be up and running in town during the three week lockdown.
