Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) minister Patricia de Lille, on Thursday 19 March, identified 37 coronavirus quarantine sites, all state-owned.
As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed cases of coronavirus are at 150. President Cyril Ramaphosa also declared the pandemic a national disaster a mere four days ago.
“One of the key tasks for DPWI has been to identify State-owned buildings which could possibly be used as quarantine sites in all 44 districts and eight metros. So far we have identified 37 properties in various provinces,” she said.
Some of these sites will be available to people living in informal settlements where there are no such facilities available.
Teams assess properties for coronavirus quarantine sites
De Lille explained that teams from head office and in all regional offices have been visiting districts to assess properties.
“Some of the sites have already been communicated to the Minister of Health. We have also communicated to Minister Mkhize that DPWI is engaging all provincial Public Works departments and local governments to ensure that we are able to identify possible quarantine sites in all 44 districts and eight metros in cases where there are no available DPWI owned properties,” she said.
“As we confirm that sites can be used as quarantine facilities, they are communicated to the Minister of Health — this process is ongoing,” she added.
Hospitals identified as coronavirus quarantine centres
The Free State Public Works department advised that two of the province’s hospitals — the Trompsburg Hospital and the Ladybrand Hospital can be used as quarantine centres as these are currently being used below capacity.
The KwaZulu Natal Department of Public Works also advised that a number of properties are available for use as quarantine sites in Durban North, Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay and Port Shepstone.
“The Limpopo Provincial Public Works Department has informed us that they can avail four properties to possibly be used as quarantine sites. These are located in Waterberg, Vhembe, Capricorn and Mopani districts,” she said.
The North West Provincial Department of Public Works can avail more than 130 sites across the province including four hospitals.
Fence at Beitbridge border
Another key intervention by DPWI is the installation of a fence at Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe. This is to ensure that no undocumented or infected persons with coronavirus cross into the country and vice-versa.
This is in line with one of the measures announced by the President in that South Africa’s borders and ports are to be secured with immediate effect.
The President stated that 35 of the 53 land entry points will be closed. This measure will, however, not be effective if the fences at the border are not secure, which in many places, they are not.
“In terms of Section 27 (2) (l) of the Disaster Management Act, No 57 of 2002, I have invoked emergency procurement procedures in relation to the erection and repairs of the border fences, east and west of the Beitbridge Border Post,” she said.
On Tuesday 17 March the due diligence and site inspections were undertaken between DPWI, Defence and the Defence Force. It was identified that a total of 40 kilometres of 1.8-meter high fence has to be erected, 20 kilometres on either side of the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry.
On Wednesday 18 March, the specifications were finalised and all of the emergency supply chain management processes were undertaken in efforts to battle the spread of coronavirus.
On Thursday, the site will be handed over to the contractor to commence with the work.
Source: The South African Read More“Due to this being an emergency, my Department has instructed the Contractor to substantially increase the number of teams deployed and the rate of delivery tenfold,” De Lille said.
