The Mpumalanga Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders (MPHTL), has urged communities to comply with the Level 2 lockdown regulations, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The house says the easing of restrictions and the opening of the economic activities do not override the call to comply with the regulations aimed at reducing COVID-19 infections and fatalities.
Chairperson of the Provincial House, Inkhosi Sandile Ngomane says initiation schools and cultural ceremonies remain suspended, as is the case with other forms of group gatherings, as a measure to prevent the spread of the virus. He says violations of the regulations will exacerbate the devastation faced by many households due to the rising infections and fatalities. “Over the past 5 months, Mpumalanga has experienced the rising Covid-19 infections and fatalities. We reiterate the President’s call for all of us to make immense sacrifices in an effort to save lives. As we move to alert level 2, it is important to note that we are not yet out of the woods, and therefore initiation schools and cultural ceremonies remain suspended, in an endeavor to prevent the spread of the pandemic,” Inkhosi Ngomane said.
He added that the number of mourners in funerals and worshippers in churches must be fifty or below in accordance with the regulations, and that all attempts should be made to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols of wearing masks, washing of hands or sanitizing regularly, keep social distancing and cough into the elbow. Ngomane says the number of people who have recovered from the pandemic in Mpumalanga is an inspiration of hope for survival. “By mid-August 2020, Mpumalanga had recorded more than twenty one thousand (21 000) positive cases. Of these more than nineteen thousand (19 000) patients have recovered. This represents a recovery rate of ninety (90) percent. We urge communities not to stigmatize those who have recovered. But this will only be possible if we all adhere to the regulations,”Ngomane said.
The Provincial HTL urged all traditional leaders to participate in Mpumalanga’s Ward based COVID-19 Forums and support the behavioral change campaign, ‘Siyayinqoba Sisonkhe, amongst the initiatives to fight against the spread of the pandemic.
Ends.
Issued by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Contact Person: Mr George Mthethwa
Contact details: 013 766 6572/ 083 302 2774
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