Picture by: M.B

eThekwini Mayor announces door-to-door COVID-19 testing

Updated April 4, 2020, 8:02a.m. | By Chris Fallen

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eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda says door-to-door coronavirus testing will soon begin in identified hotspots in the city.

“Informal settlements are the first targets, especially in areas where we have identified people who are positive, in townships like Umlazi, KwaMashu, Amaoti, Inanda and many other informal settlements that are around the areas and hostels,” he said.

He made the remarks while doing an awareness walk at Umlazi’s Glebelands Hostel on 02 April 2020 – which is home to some 2000 residents.

READ: Kaunda missions to Glebelands Hostel to reinforce lockdown regulations

He says councillors and local community structures will communicate with residents when health officials will be in their areas.

“To avert a situation where people will take advantage and come to people’s houses and commit a crime. We will be able to make awareness before the exercise begins, because we do not want to see a situation where people will be robbed of their own goods.”

Kaunda says they’ll also be providing sanitizers and soaps to residents of 11 hostels in the city, informal settlements and transit camps.

“We are also conducting cleaning services in informal settlements, supplying much-needed water in areas where there is no supply of water, by bringing water tanks.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s mayor says the language used in government’s coronavirus messaging might be making the communication inaccessible to some communities.

ALSO READ: Durban doctor pleads for protective virus gear donations

Ntuthuko Mahlaba says he’s noticed that life is continuing as normal for some citizens in the northwestern parts of KZN – with many not observing the lockdown.

“The majority of our residents in Newcastle even in the entire district reside in the rural areas and in the township.”

“We need to communicate the message in the best possible way in the language that they can understand, but the challenge now for us is that how do we make sure that the message gets to the majority of our residents because once it hits those areas, it can hit informal settlements and we’ll be in trouble.”

Updated April 4, 2020, 8:02a.m. | By Chris Fallen

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