Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Acting Mayor, Tshonono Buyeye, has called on parents to not allow their children to take part in valedictory, farewell and pens-down parties, as these are high risks for COVID-19 infections.
This comes after the NMBM COVID-19 Disaster Management Forum raised their concerns about the parties, after-parties and end of exam parties that have been taking place around the metro, where children were allegedly seen indulging in illegal drinking and others drinking publicly.
Buyeye urged all parents to take responsibility and reprimand children that are indulging in underage and irresponsible drinking as their actions risk the further spread of COVID-19.
“We are really concerned about the infection rate. Statistics show that we have more infections among children and young adults. We have seen alarming numbers from age 0-19, but also up to age 24.
“More young children are being affected,” Buyeye said. We would like to appeal to all the learners and students who are socially active to take extra care.
“Their actions might have negative consequences for their elders with weaker immune systems due to other illnesses,” Buyeye added.
Buyeye emphasised that learners and students had been highlighted as the main culprits in irresponsible social gatherings where public drinking took place, masks were not worn and social distancing was not observed.
Since the start of November, the metro already had more than 3 000 active cases with Motherwell, Uitenhage, KwaNobuhle, KwaZakhele and Walmer among the hot spots.
Buyeye urged all learners and students who were writing exams to refrain from irresponsible partying.
“All those having farewell celebrations and valedictories must not take part in underage and irresponsible drinking following these events. We have noted with concern young children publicly drinking, following these events and we are calling on parents to please take responsibility for their children and assist us as we continue to fight against COVID-19,” he said.
NMBM Disaster Management chairperson, Shane Brown, said that they wanted to tell young people to focus on their studies, as now was not the time to party.
“Please concentrate on your studies, stay home and stay safe, as your infection can affect your peers and lead to them not writing their exams,” he said.
Meanwhile, the forum recently also zoomed into non-compliant taverns in Kuyga, to educate owners and warn them about the dangers of the COVID-19 wave that was hitting the metro.
They were also warned about the consequences of breaking the regulations in place.
MMC for Public Health in the metro, Yolisa Pali, led the operation, where various departments played their part, supported by the police and Department of Health.
“After noticing the jump in numbers under alert level one, we realised that residents think we are now COVID-19 free,” Pali said.
“Unfortunately, that is not the case and the regulations are still in place. We want to warn the transgressors that law enforcement will take place but before we do that, we want to educate and arm them with knowledge.
“We need to work together because no one can champion this crisis alone,” she added.
Ward 40 Councillor, Jason Grobbelaar, said that this was an educational programme more than anything.
“The numbers are increasing and these social gatherings are currently our main problems as regulations are ignored in these spots. When people start drinking, they forget to keep their masks on. We have now decided to partner with the tavern owners as this is a collective responsibility now; we need to work together.”
During the operation, tavern owners were also given personal protective equipment to use in their establishments.
Source: Media statement issued by NMBM
