In a statement shared on its social media platforms the Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM) have implemented a “full lockdown” of West Coast towns, effective Saturday 4 April.
The post on Executive Mayor Marius Koen and SBM’s official Facebook pages, read: “Our towns will go into full lockdown for the safety of you, our residents. We are aware that there are people who need to get in contact with essential services such as medical supplies. Please travel with proof for the supplies or with a permit if you are delivering essential services. We urge our residents to please make use of the closest shop(s) for your daily/ weekly/ monthly food supplies.”
Some residents were unsure how this “full lockdown” will work and asked how they would provide proof if they needed to go to a pharmacy, for example.
The municipality urges residents to:
– Purchase all essentials within the respective areas where they live. Nobody will be allowed to shop outside the towns where they reside.
– Buy from local stores and service providers only.
– If possible, substitute your normal brands with what is available locally during this time.
– Should you require emergency or essential medical services, prescription medication or essential products such as food, which is not available in your town, you have every right to access such goods and service in a nearby town or at your regular pharmacy or your nearest emergency medical facility.
– It is advised that, in the instance where you leave your place of residence to obtain prescription medication or if you have a doctor’s note for a medical appointment, that you keep a copy in your possession whilst traveling.
– Suppliers of essential goods and services must be able to provide permits when delivering such goods or when performing their services.
– The municipality cannot grant permission to individuals for traveling. You can explain the purpose of your traveling to the law enforcement officials when stopped. Alternatively, you can obtain a signed affidavit in this regard from the local police station and present it to the law enforcement officials.
The statement concluded with Koen acknowledging and thanking all frontline staff from all sectors of society for their dedicated efforts.
