The municipal manager said that they have asked for water tanks, mobile toilets and the like from the Disaster Management Relief Fund.
Renosterberg Municipality in the Northern Cape has applied for funding from the Disaster Management Relief Fund.
The municipal manager, Morné Hoogbaard, said on Tuesday that a formal request had been filed with Dr Mmaphaka Tau, the Head of the Disaster Management Center on April 1, asking for water tanks, mobile toilets, a water truck, a sewerage truck, machinery for landfill sites, such as a bulldozer, a backhoe loader, and a flatbed truck for plant transportation.
“This engagement was facilitated by the CEO of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency, Nyandazo Vimba,” he said.
Hoogbaard pointed out that the funding would help the municipality to run successful legacy projects beyond the current covid-19 crisis.
He stated that Renosterberg was taking the Covid-19 threat very seriously and the municipality was complying strictly with the regulations of lockdown.
“The municipality has reached an agreement with Eskom to ensure that Vanderkloof has uninterrupted electricity supply during the lockdown period. Negotiations continue during lockdown, by online conferencing, to reach a lasting agreement as soon as possible.”
He added that officials who were required to attend to municipal service delivery had permits authorised by the municipal manager to travel to the places where they are needed.
“Renosterberg has implemented all the state of disaster regulations and is also monitoring daily communal life with a view to advise residents on safe behaviour in circumstances unique to the municipal communities.”
Hoogbaard pointed out that shops in the area that were allowed to trade were generally smaller than shops in larger towns and cities. “As a result, trading hours are limited to two sessions per day, from 7 am to to midday and from 5-7 pm, and only one shopper is allowed in any shop at any one time. However inconvenient the regulations may be, we have to join hands to beat the virus!” Hoogbaard said.
The municipality is also using the lockdown period to assess specific and particular service delivery needs and challenges in the various communities.
“Water and sanitation present the most pressing challenges. The water scarcity in the Philipstown informal settlements has been targeted and several 10,000 liter water tanks have been installed and are replenished regularly by a water truck.
“This solution is the direct result of friendly and cooperative talks with the Head of Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs of the Northern Cape Government, Bafedile Lenkoe, which led to assistance from the Department of Water and Sanitation.
“Although we are on lockdown, we are still attending to municipal business to ensure that service delivery continues and also continuously improves in the municipality’s drive for good governance,” Hoogbaard stated.
