Following remarks made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his address to the nation last night, he indicated that the long awaited amendments to the regulations had finally taken place, allowing for the opening of parks for physical exercise. Executive Mayor Dan Plato has welcomed the announcement and requested that city officials reopen all City parks without delay. Read more below:
‘Parks by their nature encourage social distancing and we are pleased that national government has finally changed its stance on this. Capetonians will now benefit from additional activities through the access to parks. This will assist in enabling daily exercise to increase mental and physical well-being during this challenging time,’ said Mayor Plato.
Mayor Plato’s office wrote to the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the end of May, requesting that the regulations be amended to allow parks and beaches to be opened to assist with social distancing during the limited exercise window of 06:00 – 09:00. Unfortunately, these facilities remained closed until the announcement by the President last night.
The City’s Recreation & Parks is ready to open all parks within the metropole, including Khayelitsha Wetland Park, Nantes Park, Arderne Gardens, Company’s Gardens and Westridge Gardens.
‘I am very thankful for the city staff who have been hard at work during the lockdown to ensure that our parks are ready for our residents. Teams have been carrying out maintenance over the past two weeks to ensure safety and compliance. I am sure our residents will appreciate having these spaces to exercise and enjoy some fresh air. In line with safety regulations, we appeal to residents to continue to practice great caution when venturing outside,’ said Mayor Plato.
The City re-emphasises the need to continue adhering to the regulations of wearing a face mask, washing one’s hands regularly and practicing social distancing as a way to ultimately beat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City of Cape Town will continue to focus its limited resources on helping those who require assistance, on hotspot areas, and in conducting crime prevention operations.
We can make it through this as #OneCityTogether.
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Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town
Media enquiries: Greg Wagner, Spokesperson to the Executive Mayor, Tel: 021 400 9459, Cell: 072 623 4499, Email: Greg.wagner@capetown.gov.za (please always copy media.account@capetown.gov.za)