MyPE

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Grave concerns as Covid-19 sweeps through Nelson Mandela Bay

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Dear MyPE

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is ill equipped to deal with the tragic increases in death rates due to the Covid-19 pandemic, because the uncaring ANC-led coalition of corruption government has failed to put plans in place.

As a result, mortuaries are overflowing and cemeteries in the Metro are already at 60% of capacity.

Undertakers and other stakeholders have raised concerns with the Metro’s inability to deal with the current crisis, frequently changing policies pertaining to burials, issuing verbal instructions that are then not followed up in writing.

The latest case where this has happened was during a recent meeting between the Metro and undertakers, dealing with the current policies around how funerals must proceed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Metro was requested to circulate the new policies in writing but has failed to do so. This has resulted in undertakers not following the same protocols, and residents cannot be made aware of the protocols to be adhered to at funerals.

Undertakers have also expressed concern at the growing backlog at mortuaries and the effect this has on their services. A greater expectation is placed on them to house bodies, which they are unable to do.

Cemeteries in Nelson Mandela Bay are reportedly at 60% of capacity. The municipality has now identified Motherwell as the site for mass burials, should space run out.

The establishment of a mass burial space entails significant planning and preparation, but the Metro has done little more than identifying the site in Motherwell.

I have written to the Acting Executive Director of Public Health and Acting City Manager to request assurances that the issues faced by these stakeholders are addressed urgently, and that adequate measures are put into place to ensure the Metro does not run out of burial spaces.

The ANC-led coalition of corruption has clearly failed to plan for the impact of this deadly global pandemic, although it had ample for warning of what was to come

The DA will hold this government to account to ensure that we move Nelson Mandela Bay forward again.

Regards

Cllr Leander Kruger
DA NMB Spokesperson for Public Health

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