23 Jun 2021

Kgatleng District Council chairperson, Mr Daniel Molokwe has appealed to parents, community and district leadership to assist in ensuring that learners adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

The appeal, made during the opening of the virtual Kgatleng District Council meeting Monday, comes in the wake of an increase in COVID-19 cases both at the district’s primary and secondary schools since April.

Mr Molokwe informed the meeting that the region was experiencing challenges of non-compliance to protocols by learners, particularly after school. 

“They do not wear masks, do not observe social distancing and stick around malls for long hours in groups before reaching home,” he said.

He said as of June, a total of 1 091 learners, 96 teaching and non-teaching staff members were quarantined and of that number, 145 learners and 59 teaching and non-teaching staff members tested positive to COVID-19. 

However, he stated that 935 learners, 76 teaching and non-teaching staff members had returned to schools and that the region had so far lost one teacher and one gatekeeper to COVID-19. 

He further stated that the Kgatleng District Council was given 95 slots to engage temporary COVID -19 Scorpions for four months, who assumed duty on June 1 at primary schools and different council facilities.

Furthermore, he stated that due to staff and learners going into isolations and quarantines, the teaching and learning process was affected, adding that the fear and anxiety amongst the staff and learners persisted. 

However, Mr Molokwe stated that measures were in place for schools to prepare work for all the learners. 

In addition, he stated that the Kgatleng region also offered psycho-social support by counselling teachers and learners and that the regional management team undertook regular school visits to ensure teaching and learning took place as well as ensure compliance to COVID-19 protocols.

He stated that the district had cumulatively registered 4 934 cases and 54 deaths as of June 14.

Mr Molokwe stated that the District Health Management Team continued to intensify education on adherence to COVID-19 protocols and to seek help early. 

However, he stated that timely contact tracing and testing was sometimes a challenge due to the shortage of health care workers in the district.

On a more positive note, he said, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign was conducted earnestly across the district.

“The success of the campaign has been attributed to the commendable collaboration between the DHMT, other government departments, NGOs and the community leadership,” he stated.

He said during the first cycle, which commenced March 26, a total of 2 664 people received their first dose of the Covishield/AstraZeneca vaccine and that in the second cycle of the campaign, 4 614 residents received the Sinovac vaccine.

He stated that administration of the second dose for both vaccines was currently ongoing and that the district had received a third vaccine, Pfizer. 

The vaccine, he said, had been made accessible across the district, with a total of 17 sites offering the service.  Ends