24 Aug 2021

Bobirwa Sub-district Council chairperson, Mr Christopher Motsholapheko, says it is imperative to move beyond emergency response to ensure stabilisation and plan for longer term economic recovery.

Speaking during a sub-council meeting recently, Mr Motsholapheko said it was crucial for communities to learn how to deal with new outbreaks, whilst rebuilding the economy. 

He said this was after realisation that government’s response initiatives to COVID-19 had ‘adverse effects on labour participation and productivity’. 

These initiatives, he said, reduced human interaction and slowed spread of the virus, but adversely affected Bobirwa region’s way of conducting business. 

“The crisis will pass, humankind will survive, but our actions and decisions will leave their footprint on our economy, politics and culture,” he said. 

As part of measures to curb spread of the virus, Mr Motsholapheko urged all to educate children about the indirect effects of COVID-19 in their lives. 

He opined that children could be leading normal lives, owing to initial media reports that suggested that children were immune to the virus. 

“I urge all of us to play our part in educating them, otherwise we all have a very high price to pay,” said Mr Motsholapheko, 

The chairpwrson warned that by not changing their normal routine, children were placing the lives of their loved ones, especially parents and grandparents in dire danger. 

On other COVID-19 related matters, Mr Motsholapheko urged all those eligible to vaccinate and reminded the public that vaccination was carried out at public facilities such as dikgotla and community halls ‘to ease congestion.’ 

The chairperson said he learnt of successful administration of AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines in his jurisdiction. 

“A total of 5 645 people were fully vaccinated in Bobonong cluster, while 7 197 people have received one dose,” he stated. 

Mr Motsholapheko added that a total of 3 993 people were fully vaccinated in Mmadinare cluster, while 4 703 had received one dose. 

In the same vein, he informed councillors that Bobonong cluster registered a total of 3 832 positive cases, while Mmadinare cluster registered a total of 3 111 positive cases as at August 15. Ends