Community screening will kick off across Kouga this week as part of collective government efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The screening will be conducted door-to-door in communities by local clinic staff.

The following areas will be targeted this week (6 – 10 April):

• JEFFREYS BAY: Pellsrus
• HUMANSDORP: Arcadia & Vergenoeg
• ST FRANCIS: Zwelitsha
• PATENSIE: Tier & Kloofnek Street, 7de Laan, Rooikloof & Creche Street
• HANKEY: Philipsville
• LOERIE: Judy & Marlene Street, informal area & Greenfields
• THORNHILL: Phase 1

The screening forms part of the national mass community screening programme that is currently being implemented across South Africa.

So far, 5 400 fieldworkers have been trained and deployed to various areas.

Kouga Municipality’s draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget for the new financial year, starting 1 July 2020, was approved at a special Council meeting last week ahead of the 21-day Covid-19 lockdown.

Executive Mayor Horatio Hendricks said the draft was a discussion document and that changes may need to be made in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.“We have, unfortunately, had to postpone the public consultation meetings that were set to start early in April.

“Every effort will, however, be made to ensure that the documents can be accessed by all communities for input before the final version is tabled to Council at the end of May.”

According to the draft budget document, the operating revenue for 2020/21 will increase to R919,2-million. That is an increase of 8,61% when compared to the 2019/20 adjustments budget.

Total operating expenditure, including non-cash items, amounts to R 968,9 million.

The major operating expenditure items for 2020/21 are employee related costs (34,13%), bulk electricity purchases (25,92%) and depreciation (9,21%).

Funding for the 2020/21 Operating Budget is obtained from various sources, the major sources being service charges such as electricity, water, sanitation, environmental management fees and refuse collection (52,96%), property rates (22,86%), and grants and subsidies received from national and provincial Government (15,73%).

The following increases in property rates and service charges have been proposed, with effect from 1 July 2020:

• Property rates: 6,5%
• Water: 8,1%
• Sanitation: 7%
• Refuse: 7%
• Electricity (average increase in income): 8,1%
• Environmental Management Fee – 0%

The draft capital budget for 2020/21 is R70,3 million. This is 63,9% less than the 2019/20 adjustments budget due to the drought relief funding that was received for the current financial year,” Hendricks said.

The draft budget is available on Kouga Municipality’s website at www.kouga.gov.za/documentlibrary/finance

View delails below

View Kouga Budget 2020 – 2021

Almost 7 000 households across Kouga were armed with soap and educational pamphlets ahead of the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown on Friday. 

Kouga Executive Mayor Horatio Hendricks said the joint awareness drive took place last week to help vulnerable communities prepare for the lockdown. 

Roleplayers included Kouga Municipality, the Department of Health and community organisations such as the St Francis Disaster Volunteer Group and Oyster Bay Ratepayers Association. 

St Francis Disaster Volunteer Group distributing soap in Sea Vista

A soap drive was held in support of the campaign and thousands of bars were donated by businesses and individuals. 

“Schools and their governing bodies, including Hankey Primary, also got involved and made it possible to reach even more families,” he said. 

He encouraged residents to continue practicing good hygiene during lockdown. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) , soap and water is the best protective measure against the coronavirus. Hand sanitiser is a good backup but only if the alcohol content is 60% or higher.

“It is very important not to touch your face unless you have just washed your hands,”  Hendricks said. 

“The virus is spread through liquid droplets expelled when someone coughs or sneezes. These droplets then cling to surfaces, including people’s hands. 

“If you touch your face with contaminated hands, it allows the virus to enter your body through your nose, mouth or eyes.”

The WHO suggest that people should apply a palmful of soap or handwashing liquid to a cupped hand, and rub hands palm to palm, while interlacing their  fingers to cover every surface of their hands. 

This should be done for at least 20 seconds. Rinse and dry your hands properly.

* Soap donations are still welcome for distribution to families-in-need. Should you wish to donate, please send a whatsapp to   073 414 3124 (whatsapp or sms only). 

* Cash donations are also welcome and can be paid into the following account:

Bank: First National Bank
Branch code: 210515
Account name: Mayors Intervention
Account number: 62 082 103 591
Account Type: Cheque Account
Reference: C19 & YOUR SURNAME