THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has decided to unblock all previously blocked electricity accounts to enable electricity purchases during the country’s current lockdown period.
This is to ensure that there will be no panic-stricken residents queueing to pay their accounts in order to avoid their prepayment electricity meters from being blocked.
However, Bay interim mayor, Tshonono Buyeye, made it clear that as soon as lockdown ends, all those with unresolved enquiries will have to sort out their accounts.
This announcement was made after a mayoral committee meeting, where the institution’s contingency plans to ensure the provision of unbroken essential service, were tabled and adopted.
Buyeye said that the recent establishment of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Disaster Management Advisory Forum and lengthy planning meetings, put the metro in good stead to face the toughest hurdle successfully. According to Buyeye, the forum also finalised scenario planning during these meetings even before the lockdown announcement was made by the president.
“It is during times of difficulty that the characters of strong men and women are tested.
“I am confident that we are up to the challenge to do our civic duty to safeguard our communities and especially the most vulnerable.
“In fact, the drastic measures imposed show how serious government is about the protection of the elderly, people with weakened immune systems and those suffering from pre-existing conditions,” Buyeye said.
He also confirmed that quarantine sites were being identified and that plans to ensure that the homeless are accommodated, were in an advanced stage.
“Essential services personnel identified by national government and those directly responsible for fighting the scourge that reached more than 300 000 infections worldwide, will continue to work during the lockdown period.
He also added that the safety of employees responsible for ensuring that electricity supplies, water and emergency services are in place, remains of paramount importance.
“Procurement processes are in place to buy more protective clothing and equipment for first responders and employees to do their jobs without putting their own safety and that of their families at risk.”
Until directives from national government request otherwise the following services are considered essential:
Water services, electricity, sanitation and support services; traffic services, metro police, fire and emergency services; fleet services, wellness centres, refuse collection, laboratories and disaster management.
A dedicated webpage on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality website (http://www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za/page/disaster-management-advisory-forum-covid-19) has been established to share numerous aspects of the Nelson Mandela Bay Disaster Management response to the pandemic.
More information can be found on the following website: www.sacoronavirus.co.za.
The national helpline is 0800 029 999. WhatsApp messages can also be sent to 060 012 3456.
