After receiving a report yesterday evening from one of the resident unions in the municipality, Mogale City Local Municipality hereby with grave concern wishes to inform the public that one of our employees has tested positive for Covid-19.

It is believed that the employee who works in the Electrical Section contracted the virus from his spouse who recently tested positive, stirring a need for him to also get tested. The worker has since been under self-isolation. It is also believed that the affected party partook in a recent go-slow and attended ensuing related gatherings, creating a possibility that other employees who have been in close contact with him may as well be at risk of being infected.

As difficult as the situation we facing may be, the municipality thanks the employee for informing us which assists in tracing, testing and trying to manage further infections.

In response to this, the municipality’s health practitioners have also urgently implemented the following precautionary measures:

  • Contact made with the Department of Health who have commenced with the tracing and testing of those who could have been in contact with the employee
  • The municipality has also stopped all operations under the Energy Services Division, pending advice from health officials
  • Our Occupational Health and Safety officials will remain in contact with the employee and those who were in contact with the affected to ensure non return to work until testing and repeat testing of the infected has been concluded
  • After sanitising all municipal buildings over the past week in preparation of some officials returning to work, the municipality will revisit and inspect buildings requiring re-decontamination

 As containing the spread of Covid-19 is each and every South African’s responsibility, we hereby also take the opportunity to once again remind our employees and citizens of our city to firstly be weary of the known pandemic symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath.

Secondly, to always take the required preventative actions such as regularly and thoroughly washing their hands, maintain social distancing, wear a mask, avoid public crowded places, avoid touching the eyes, mouth and nose, follow respiratory hygiene and to seek medical attention when any symptoms arise.

Lastly, starting with our employees we must avoid at all costs to attend face to face gatherings whether in large or small groups in order to avoid spreading this unsympathetic pandemic that has invaded our lives.