Premier Mathabatha and his executive monitors COVID -19 State of Disaster Compliance

By: Emmaculate Cindi

The Premier of Limpopo Chupu Stanley Mathabatha accompanied by MECs was on a mission across the district of Sekhukhune to monitoring compliance. The main focus was to enforce Covid 19 compliance amongst retailers in the food industry to obey measures of the State of Disaster as outlined by Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel.

Grocery stores, Supermarkets and Spaza shops will remain open and trading during the 21 days of National Lockdown as announced by President Cryil Ramaphosa.

The executive made a stop at Dennilton Taxi Rank, Elansdoorin Shopping Complex, Leeufontein and Motetema social grant pay points. They were escorted by members of the South African Police Services and Traffic Officers.

Four Spaza shops that were not compliant with the lockdown regulations were closed because they did not provide sanitizers at the entrance for consumers; did not observe the limited of 50 people in store, which includes workers; workers were not wearing masks.  All these were contraventions, which undermined hygiene and social distancing to curb the spread of the Coronavirus also known as Covid 19.

Amongst those that were cautioned were taxi drivers that did not comply with the Department of Transport policy to carry 7 passengers in a 16-seater. Those taxis found to have exceeded the required number of passengers were instructed to reduce their cargo on the spot.

During the raid, shops that were found to be selling alcohol and tobacco were amongst the four that were closed.

The two day grants payment was one of the measures implemented by the government to practice social distancing of one meter amongst the elderly and disabled.

Across the district, it was clear that the President’s call to respect and adhere to the National Lockdown did not fall on death ears. The streets were empty and those that came out to see what has the Premier and his executive found were shouting social distancing.

It was evident with young children’s remarks that the coronavirus is real and people need not leave their houses unless it is of importance like going to consult health professionals and buying only essential goods from stores that are permitted to operate during the lockdown.