Much work is under way to ensure there is a comprehensive City of Cape Town response to priority high risk areas, such as in informal settlements, in line with the City’s mandate of basic service provision where it is possible to do so. This is in support of the work being done by the lead disaster authorities being the Western Cape and the National governments.
Basic service delivery continues
Basic service delivery is viewed by the City as a critical service and continues in all areas. At the same time, the City is looking at ways to create healthier spaces in very highly populated informal settlements in an effort to reduce the rate of COVID-19 infection. The City will also provide support to the Western Cape and National governments in their efforts to relocate residents amid the health crisis.
Two things must be emphasised here:
- We will follow an organised due process to ensure we protect the most vulnerable in our communities by temporarily relocating them to healthier spaces where possible. We urge residents and community leaders to work with us during this time of crisis
- We also urge host communities to welcome and support these temporary interventions and support us in our endeavours
Since the national disaster declaration, however, the City has been empowered to start the temporary extension of basic service provision, especially to informal settlements, which have limited access to water due to these being recently occupied through land invasion or where the land is privately owned. Normally, the City would not be able to provide basic services in these areas or not immediately depending on the circumstances of the land or the ownership.
I would like to thank City officials, especially from the Human Settlement’s Directorate’s Informal Settlement Management Department for work done thus far to identify the highest priority areas; to look at enhanced disaster service provision of existing settlement areas and newly formed settlements and also site clearing and preparation for the relocation of vulnerable groups that have been under way.
Healthier spaces
From the City’s side, the process is twofold:
- It is necessary to temporarily create physically healthier spaces between residents in COVID-19 high priority settlements, where physical distancing to prevent the rapid spread of the virus is always possible
- Space must be created for COVID-19 emergency access for the delivery of enhanced hygiene requirements, such as standpipes and the placement of water tanks as well as access ways for water tankers and emergency services and health workers
As you can imagine, this is an enormous task and one that must be done with sensitivity but great urgency.
Much of this work is now possible after the national disaster declaration.
The City’s Water and Sanitation and Solid Waste departments have also been front-and-centre in ensuring we have an enhanced permanent and temporary basic service delivery response to the crisis with the provision of tankers and water tanks and enhanced COVID-19 required cleansing, especially in priority high risk areas.
We are doing all we can in the fastest time possible to roll out our COVID-19 response. It is being finalised in this week and will be updated as the situation requires.
I urge our residents especially in the highest risk areas to please support all efforts by government to assist. Please cooperate. I call on community leaders to help us to ensure we can move forward with our temporary interventions.
This virus is real and the more we do now, the better the outcome will be.
I implore community leaders and influencers in communities to help us to drive awareness. I ask our residents to stay away from large crowds and gatherings. Keep some space between you and the person next to you, where possible. Don’t stand in groups while in a queue. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds (you only need a trickle of water) as often as you can and don’t touch your face.
We will communicate more on our COVID-19 response over the coming week.
For more information go to www.capetown.gov.za/coronavirus
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Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Councillor Malusi Booi, Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, City of Cape Town, Tel: 021 400 5156 or Cell: 071 728 3512, Email: Malusi.Booi@capetown.gov.za (please always copy media.account@capetown.gov.za)