COVID-19 National lockdown: A message from Mayor Dan Plato

16 April 2020

As we have made it through the first three weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown, and enter the first week of the two week extension, I want to share with our residents some highlights regarding what we have been doing to address the pandemic and ensure that services continue during this period.

This is an unprecedented time and as the City of Cape Town, we have had to work quickly to adapt to the lockdown, its extension, and the associated regulations set by the National Government to ensure that essential services are still delivered.

- I have almost daily meetings with the City’s executive management and Mayoral Committee to discuss the roll-out of the City’s emergency services. We discuss those matters where extra attention is needed, and acknowledge those services that are working well. Some of the management join the meeting in person, but for those who are able, we have many joining the meeting via Skype.

- I have written to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to expand the list of essential goods as residents have been asked to stay home for an even longer period. I have also asked the president to scrap the BEE requirements for businesses who want to apply for financial assistance from National Government.

- We are also doing whatever we can to try and minimise the impact on our economy as a result of the National lockdown, including providing a service to the construction industry, residents, government departments and professionals so that they can continue to submit building plans, and development and land use applications via the City’s e-Services platform. Since the start of the lockdown to 9 April 2020, we have approved building work to the value of over R1 billion. This means thousands of job opportunities for our residents.

- I have had several meetings with civil society organisations, including NGOs, ratepayer groups, CPFs and NHWs, and the religious community to try and address any concerns. I continue to meet with these organisations on a daily basis taking into account the importance of social distancing and only accommodating meetings of a critical nature as per the guidelines set by National Government.

- I have visited the City’s COVID-19 testing centres, and received a demonstration of the screening process and the test for those who need to be tested. These centres have been set up at day clinics across the City – you can read more here.

- During this pandemic, we have had to amplify our existing efforts to assist the most vulnerable, and this includes our soup kitchens. I have visited soup kitchens across the Metro, from Atlantis and Mamre to Grassy Park, Lavender Hill, and the Marikana informal settlement to hand over equipment and food so that they can prepare warm and nutritious meals for those in need. We have supported 21 soup kitchens during the lockdown with equipment and food supplies, and I am delivering more equipment and food today.

- I am regularly updated by the Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Dr Zahid Badroodien on the Coronavirus pandemic, and Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security keeps me updated on our law enforcement efforts and the outcomes of the Disaster Operations Committee.

- I have visited the temporary emergency accommodation sites we have set up for the refugees in Wingfield, and for the homeless in Strandfontein. These sites have all the necessary ablution facilities, water, electricity, and the appropriate health and safety measures, while ensuring that social distancing takes place. Procurement never happens as fast as we would like it to happen, but I think it is commendable that we have managed to get these sites up and running with such short notice. I have found the politicisation of the services being provided to the homeless to be most shameful. The public has been given half-truths and misinformation by people with political agendas. I want to assure the public that everyone on site is treated well, and with respect and dignity. You can read more about this here.

- Following clarity from National Government, we put measures in place to start issuing permits for informal food traders. We would have loved to have done this sooner, but we need to follow the regulations issued by the National Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and after receiving an update from National Government yesterday, we were able to implement.

- While we continue to provide basic and essential services to approximately 200 000 informal households across Cape Town, we have rolled out 31water trucks at a cost of R200 000 per day, and additional water tanks as part of our temporary emergency response. Our provision of these services exceeds the standards set by National Government. Given the State of National Disaster that has been declared, the City has extended its services to deploy water trucks daily to enhance residents’ access to water in informal settlements. I will be visiting a number of these sites during the week to check on the roll out.

- The Mayoral Committee Member of Economic Development, Alderman James Vos and his team have set up a business support portal on www.investcapetown.com for all business owners to access the latest information about business support available from the National Government – what to do, which numbers to call, which forms are needed and much more. I have had a look at the site and am very impressed that all the useful information has been gathered in one place. 

We are all working in an unprecedented time and I am proud of the work being done by all our officials during this very difficult time. I want to say a special thank you to everyone who has been able to continue working during this time, you are truly appreciated. We have all pulled together as we will only get through this by working together.

I want to call on our residents to please keep respecting the lockdown, you have been playing the most important part by staying home and we are extremely grateful for the high levels of cooperation you have shown.

Issued by Greg Wagner, Spokesperson to the Executive Mayor, 16 April 2020