The COVID-19 global pandemic has changed the way we live and work and has led to many residents working from home during the national lockdown. However, many of the City of Cape Town staff members have been on the frontline delivering essential services to ensure that we all stay safe and healthy, with no interruption of basic services during this uncertain time. The City is encouraging residents who wish to express their gratitude for these individuals to share their sentiments on the City’s website.
Residents are encouraged to show their appreciation for the service of the City’s frontline workers, the unsung heroes that form part of the municipality’s essential staff. These individuals are at the coalface of the communities on a daily basis to ensure that essential services continue to be delivered to all residents.
‘We could not be more proud of our essential staff, our frontline champions, for their courage; perseverance and overall resilient attitude during the current lockdown. They have displayed their utmost commitment and high spirits all while having to deal with their own personal challenges that come along with facing this crisis. We are calling on all residents to express any gratitude they may have by sending some encouraging words to these courageous men and women,’ said Cape Town mayor, Dan Plato.
They’ve continued to clear blocked drains; supply water to informal settlements; educate people on COVID-19; collect refuse; fix burst pipes; dispatch emergency services; provide health services and so much more across the city.
‘I also want to thank the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Councillor Sharon Cottle, her management team, and all the HR staff who have been hard at work ensuring that City staff are able to work and to do so safely,’ said Mayor Plato.
‘We believe that any amount of appreciation, especially for those who are serving during this time, goes a long way. We want them to know how much residents value their dedication. These staff members have ensured that our lives run a little bit smoother during this unusual time,’ said Councillor Cottle.
Residents can leave messages online at www.capetown.gov.za/coronavirus. These messages will then be collated and shared with the various departments at the end of each day.
These unsung heroes range from the City’s doctors; nurses and Environmental health practitioners who play a critical role in managing the COVID-19 outbreak on the frontline. Every aspect of their service is crucial during this time as they assist with COVID-19 case finding and contact tracing; diagnosis management within the communities and decontamination of affected homes. Their work within communities city-wide is invaluable.
Some of the other essential service workers include the refuse collection and solid waste cleansing teams; social workers and disaster risk response teams; the staff at the clinics including the nurses, doctors and cleaning staff; all law enforcement officers; the cleaning staff at the Public Transport Interchanges and MyCiTi drivers who ensure that essential workers get to work and residents have transport to access essential goods. The Water and Sanitation department as well as the professionals ensuring the efficient distribution of electricity during the lockdown.
The City commends these staff members for performing these essential services with bravery; cheerfulness and care. Since the lockdown commenced, the City of Cape Town’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) practitioners have been hard at work in providing trauma counselling and EAP interventions to support the essential services staff.
The City thanks residents who have responded enthusiastically to the call to applaud our healthcare workers and those unsung heroes at 20:00 on certain evenings. The messages of encouragement on social media platforms are also appreciated.
‘With the lockdown having been extended, we appeal to you to continue these gestures of gratitude and to send your appreciation messages for these staff members,’ said Councillor Cottle.
During this period, the provision of water and electricity; refuse removal and the various maintenance of infrastructure and public facilities place significant responsibility on municipalities.
The City could not deliver any of these directives if it weren’t for the resilience of all its departments and staff members on the ground, who are ensuring that it continues to deliver on the full range of its commitments to the people of Cape Town.