ETHEKWINI Municipality opened public amenities to allow people to utilise these facilities to keep fit and healthy by walking and exercising.
Parks, recreation and culture unit recently announced that the public will be allowed to have access to public spaces as from the last week of July only for healthy lifestyle exercises, including walking, running, cycling and yoga which are permitted under lockdown regulations, however, any other form of social gathering remains strictly prohibited.
The open spaces that will open are parks, botanical gardens, and nature reserves and sports grounds. Deputy Head, Sibusiso Mkhwanazi, said the municipality is mindful of the increasing number of the Covid-19 infections, thus will ensure that strict precautions are implemented.
“The lives of our residents are a priority to us, therefore access to these places will be limited to avoid overcrowding and the maximum number of people in a group allowed is 10. This is to ensure that while residents are enjoying themselves, they are also vigilant at the same time,” he said.
As the world deals with the effect of the pandemic, the municipality’s open spaces have been affected with some parks not being maintained as usual because the department is operating with limited staff members.
Mkhwanazi said a single entrance will be used to enter nature reserves and botanical gardens. Screening procedures for Covid-19 and temperature checks will be mandatory for all residents wishing to enter the facilities.
Park users are urged to be cautious and vigilant at all times by adhering to the requirements.
•Wear a mask in public spaces at all times,
•Practice social distancing of a minimum of three meters apart,
•Events or gatherings are prohibited,
•Ensure that hands are washed and sanitised prior to entering a parks facility,
•Exercise only with persons within your household which are limited to a maximum of five people in a group,
•Refrain from using the ablution facilities,
•Remind children that the use of the gym and play-equipment is restricted,
•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.
“We were delighted to hear about the reopening of these public spaces, so much so, that a few of my friends and I went on a hike on Saturday, 1 August at Krantzkloof Nature Reserve in Kloof. To my surprise, it was quite busy, there were more people than I expected which proved to me that I was not alone in wanting to leave the house. By the time our hike was done, we were advised by the park rangers that they had decided to close the reserve again until further notice,” said Nothando Ngubane.
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