In the absence of Leadership

#CoVid19SA #CoronaVirusSA – It’s up to us.

We cannot rely on the government to deal with CoronaVID19 effectively. They have, to date, shown no leadership. We wait with anticipation for some sign of true leadership where people are put before profit from our President at 6pm today. We trust that he will be taking decisive action. (It is ow 19h32 and there is no sign of him).

These are actions we believe every citizen can take in order to brace for the blow we are all about to take….no matter what President Ramaphosa has to say. These are things you can do now!

In Hermanus, heart of the Land Party, we are particularly vulnerable as our major industry is tourism so our people are going to come into contact with people who have been to countries where the CoronaVirus is prolific and could bring it back into communities where there are not the resources available to deal with it effectively.

Action needs to be taken now. Today.

Here are some of the things that YOU can do:

AT HOME (with informal settlements top of mind)

• Pay attention to your personal hygiene and health – gargle, wash hands, brush teeth etc.

• Keep children away from school.

• Practise the elbow greeting. This is going to be difficult as comrades always greet one another heartily…but it is very important.

• Keep extra water so you can wash your hands more regularly. If you need containers contact your recycling centre for plastic containers or use social media to source them.

• Encourage your family to wash their hands and not touch their face. (You do this more than you think you do.)

• Limit visiting (also very difficult in the Kasi…but again, important) Meet in smaller groups, outside in the sunshine in open spaces.

• Go to work only if you have to. Try to work at home or reduce shifts. Speak to your employer about creative options including UIF and PAYE.

• Work at home if you’re privileged enough to be able to.

• When you are working ask for surgical gloves and hand sanitizer to be supplied. Especially if you are handling money or car keys.

• Try to stay at home as much as possible.

• Grow your own vegetables

• Help the elderly and the disabled by shopping for them so you reduce their possible exposure in public places.

• Avoid large gatherings e.g. church, protests, public meetings

• Wipe down your cell phone a few times a day.

• Wash your hands after you’ve been to the shops, out your house, before you cook.

• Boost your immune system – drink herbal teas like moringa with ginger, lemon and honey.

• Do not travel.

BUSINESSES

• Scale down.

• Identify who can work from home and let them do that. You can even divert your phones and let your receptionist work at home.

• Work out a skeleton staff schedule.

• Look at possible dismissing staff (temporarily) so they can claim UIF and employing them less than the required hours a month on a skeleton schedule so everyone gets a shift. Be creative.

• For staff that can carry on working, hold back PAYE payments to help your cashflow.

• Hold back VAT payments to help your cashflow.

• Speak to landlord or bank and negotiate a period of grace or a temporary reduction.

• Check if any loss is covered by your insurance.

• Consider deliveries and take-aways.

• Make sure your staff have surgical gloves, especially if the handle money or keys.

• Have hand sanitizer available at all points where people may handle pens to sign registers, enter pin codes, open doors, push trolleys etc.

COMMUNITY

• Community leaders must use their structures to assist the community

• Transporting medical personnel from local clinics to deliver medications to chronic patients.

• Assisting schools to distribute school meals to students through efficient ‘walk-throughs’.

• Organise for community members to assist with cleaning in public places.

• Disinfect high-risk public spaces regularly.

• Advise the local government of any support required.

• Communicating information, facts and advice.