CHRIS Hani District Municipality Executive Mayor, Wongama Gela, has urged residents to respect the national Covid-19 lockdown.
In a statement on Monday, March 30, Gela reminded residents to leave home only to buy food, seek medical care or collect social grants.
“To those who must stand in queues, please observe social distance and keep the one metre distance from each other.
“Only one person from a household should leave their home to access essential supplies or services.
“These prescripts are set to protect communities from the risk of contracting the virus,” Gela reiterated.
While order was maintained on the first day of Sassa payments in Middelburg and Cradock, the numbers seemed too many for the limited number of municipal officials and other stakeholders in Komani, as thousands of elderly and disabled beneficiaries queued without adhering to social distancing.
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality spokesperson, Lonwabo Kowa, said councillors and officials used Komani Town Hall to reduce the post office queue.
“We were also assisted by Chris Hani District Municipality who brought water tanks to help people drink and wash hands,” Kowa said.
