# COVID-19: Municipalities implement wide-ranging interventions to assist communities

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/2020/04/02/covid-19-municipalities-implement-wide-ranging-interventions-to-assist-communities/
- Published: 2020-04-02T11:15:29+02:00
- Author: dearSA

![](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/20191122/Screenshot-
28.png "Screenshot (28)")

Municipalities across the Western Cape continue to roll out a broad collection of
interventions aimed at mitigating the impact of Covid-19 in their communities.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell, says council’s primary responsibility is to 
continue to ensure that basic services, including water, sanitation, electricity
and cleaning continues.

“In addition councils are doing everything within their means to assist their communities
who are all struggling as a result of the Covid-19 virus and the impact thereof.”

The following initiatives have already been undertaken in Western Cape municipalities:

Ø Key services including technical services, water, sewerage, electricity and waste
management continues.

Ø Water and electricity restrictions have been lifted in areas where it may have
been implemented to date.

Ø Councils are working closely with SAPS and the SANDF to ensure the safety of all
communities.

Ø Loud hailing pertaining to COVID-19 operations and information is done in rural
areas and informal settlements.

A snapshot of some of the additional measures some councils have undertaken include
but are not limited to:

Ø Stellenbosch Municipality will suspend all rate collections for three months. 
In addition all homeless residents in the Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Klapmuts
areas are being accommodated in temporary accommodation.

Ø In Overstrand Municipality, businesses who find themselves in financial stress,
as a result of the lockdown and cannot pay their accounts due for March 2020 and/
or April 2020, may enter into an extended term of payment agreement in order for
their payments to be done over a period of 6 months. Residential customers, who 
find themselves in financial stress, as a result of the lockdown and cannot pay 
their accounts due for March 2020 and/or April 2020, may also enter into an extended
payment agreement in order to pay these accounts, over a twelve month period. In
addition, all tenants of the Municipality who cannot make use of the premises they
lease, for the purpose it is leased for, such as business premises, stalls, etc.
will be exempted from the payment of their rental for the months of April 2020 and
May 2020.

Ø In Hessequa municipality all ward councillors have been provided with funding 
to provide food parcels to their constituencies where needed.

Ø Swartland Municipality is working with the private sector to develop feeding schemes
for homeless people. The municipality is still considering a possible payment holiday
for property rates as well as writing off interest on arrear accounts.

Ø In Witzenberg municipality, the council has decided not to implement strict credit
control during the lockdown period. All prepaid electricity meters that may have
been shut off due to non-payment has been reconnected. Shelter has been arranged
for homeless people needing accommodation during this time.

Ø Saldanha-Bay: A temporary suspension of all credit control measures and procedures
will be implemented until the end of April 2020, meaning that there will be no blocked
electricity meters and no restriction measures. The Free basic water allocation 
for indigent residents will be increased from 6 to 10 kilolitres from April 2020
until the end of June 2020. The largest holiday resort has been made available for
a containment area if needs be.

Ø Drakenstein municipality has lifted all water and electricity blocks. Temporary
shelter for the homeless has been arranged.

Ø BreedeVallei municipality has rolled out additional water points and toilets in
informal settlements which are also being serviced on a greater frequency.

Ø Mosselbay Municipality is providing financial assistance to all lessee’s of the
municipality. When it comes to water all water that has been restricted (on drip)
has been opened and all prepaid and conventional electricity meters that were blocked
had their restrictions lifted.

Ø Oudtshoorn Municipality has undertaken various measures including exempting the
billing of interest on all overdue consumers’ accounts for a period of four (4) 
months from March 2020 – June 2020.

Ø Theewaterskloof Municipality has also lifted restrictions on water and electricity.
All critical services continue and communication in the affected areas is rolled
out continuously. The council is working with NGOs in to distribute food parcels
where needed.

Ø Drakenstein Municipality is providing shelter to the homeless in four different
shelters across its municipal area. The homeless receive soap, water, blankets and
daily meals.

Ø In Bergrivier Municipality, people who were placed on a controlled water management
system, now have full access to water for the duration of the National State of 
Disaster. Credit control on outstanding accounts are also being relaxed.

Ø George Municipality will not charge any interest for April 2020 on service accounts.
The council has unblocked all electrical meters from 24 March to allow purchase 
of pre-paid electricity for all consumers. Additional sanitation facilities and 
waterpoints are being provided in a number of informal settlements. Rosemore Sport
Stadium has been set up as a homeless shelter. Loudhailing has been taking place
in all areas as of 25 March – with areas being identified on a daily basis that 
need to be revisited.

“District municipalities in the Western Cape continue to render all essential services,
including firefighting, road maintenance and environmental health services. Our 
disaster management centres are all in 24/7 activation and working hard to tackle
the COVID-19 crisis,” says Bredell.

“Further measures continue to be investigated by all councils as the situation unfolds.
I want to thank our councils in conjunction with the Western Cape Department of 
Local Government for doing what they can to assist their communities during this
difficult time,” says Bredell.

Bredell has urged all citizens with questions regarding the ongoing lockdown and
what it means for them, their families and their lives to visit the website: www.
westerncape.gov.za/coronavirus

“In addition, if you have flu-like symptoms, and have come into contact with someone
who has COVID-19, please contact the provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 for advice
on what to do next.”

ENDS.

Media enquiries:

James-Brent Styan

Spokesperson for the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development
Planning, Anton Bredell