MORE than 100 residents of the Madiba Informal Settlement in Lorraine received hand sanitisers, soap and other personal protective equipment (PPE) from the metro in commemoration of the recent Africa Day.
Acting Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshonono Buyeye, accompanied by MMCs for Public Health and Infrastructure and Engineering, Yolisa Pali and Andile Lungisa, set out to the informal settlement to hand over the PPE.
The donation was aimed at bringing some relief to the residents who have been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to the residents, Buyeye said his visit to the area was special as it coincided with Africa Day. He emphasised that it was critical for all residents to stay safe to ensure that Africa wins the fight against the invisible enemy.
“We want to ensure that we flatten the curve in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
“Our communities are urged to maintain social distancing at all times. As a city we want to contribute to the efforts that will ensure that we defeat Covid-19 on the African continent.
“The less privileged communities are our priorities,” Buyeye said.
Concerns have been raised about residents who live in densely populated areas. Municipal spokesperson, Mamela Ndamase, said that the Madiba Informal Settlement is made up of more than 100 unemployed residents who are solely dependent on domestic part-time jobs.
“The nationwide lockdown has made it difficult for them to afford hand sanitisers and other necessary protective clothing, as they have been without work for weeks,” Ndamase added.
One of the beneficiaries from the settlement, Ntombekhaya Dywili, said that they were grateful to the municipality for the donation. “We will now be able to wash our hands regularly using soap and put on our masks to prevent possible transmission.”
