Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s new Executive Mayor, Councillor Nqaba Bhanga, stated that he was pleased with and encouraged about the hard work done to fight COVID-19 within Nelson Mandela Bay, but that more still needs to be done.
Today Executive Mayor Bhanga hosted his first COVID-19 Command Council to receive updates on the progress made and engage with stakeholders.
COVID-19 Command Council is a committee that includes different stakeholders, chaired by the Executive Mayor, to receive reports, discuss strategies, and guide and advise the Joint Operations Committee about the fight against COVID-19.
The Command Council includes the SAPS, Metro Police, Municipal Disaster Management, the departments of Health, Labour, Social Development and other relevant departments, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the religious sector.
“I have received reports of commendable efforts made. It is encouraging to hear that both government officials, volunteers and business have been working hard to save the lives of the people of the City,” said Executive Mayor Bhanga.
He added: “A good foundation has been put in place. What we need now is to inject some intensity into our work. To properly manage a crisis, we need to focus on awareness work and law enforcement. If need be, we must arrest people, close down establishments and issue the transgressors of COVID-19 regulations with fines to send a strong message that we are serious about the business of saving lives.”
The Executive Mayor said that the Municipality’s Metro Police working with SAPS will continue with roadblocks and visits to entertainment establishments to enforce compliance and the rule of law.
This weekend, roadblocks will continue to be manned across the City, focusing on Motherwell and other hotspots like Uitenhage.
“I would like to call upon the residents of this beautiful City to respect regulations, wear their masks at all times, wash their hands or sanitise, keep the required social distance and avoid attending gatherings as much as they can. For us to defeat COVID-19, we need to work together,” Mayor Bhanga added.
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