Dear people of the Cape flats...

CAPE TOWN - Dear people of the Cape flats,

Today is day 20 of the initial 21-day national lockdown and our people are struggling.

President Cyril Ramaphosa

extended the lockdown by an extra two weeks

, but our people on the Cape flats are on the edge and not sure how we will get through today let alone another two weeks.

Tuesday was mayhem in the Mitchells Plain and Manenberg communities as hundreds of people took to the streets to show their frustrations as no work means no pay for the majority of us - this ultimately means no food on the table.

Yes, we are hungry, we are struggling and we are getting desperate.

We live by a simple saying, '

Daala what you must.' But

this is not that time to daala what you must because the Coronavirus is a real killer, it is a global pandemic and it is on your doorstep.

We need to be smart during this time, we need to stand together and help each other through this difficult period. We also need to understand that the lockdown is there to protect us, our children, our parents and grandparents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4H3B7ewlb4&t=8s

You might be young and healthy but if you get infected, you could potentially spread the virus to your parents, grandparents or even your baby brothers and sisters who might not be able to handle the virus.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) are doing their best to ensure people living on the Cape flats adhere to the lockdown rules, but there are still many who ignore the presidents' call and feel that the Covid-19 virus does not affect them.

I've seen young kids still playing together in the streets, kicking ball, teenagers

lamming on the corners and parents having braai's and entertaining with friends.

My people, the coronavirus on the Cape flats is real!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcNODSLKTXs&t=6s

Since the first confirmed case on March 5, there have been a total number of

2 415 confirmed cases in South Africa

and 27 deaths; 643 of those cases are from the Western Cape with at least 100 confirmed cases on the Cape Flats.

On Sunday, Shoprite in Athlone closed until further notice after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.

"The (Athlone) store closed immediately and a professional decontamination company was brought in to sanitise and deep clean the store.

"The provincial Department of Health will give notice when the store may be reopened," Shoprite said in a statement.

This follows the news that Athlone police station closed after a police officer tested positive.

"The station was immediately evacuated and all the shift members, appropriately 20 of them are in self-isolation pending their test results.

"The station had since been decontaminated but it will remain closed until Monday, 13 April 2020," said National police spokesman Brigadier Vish Naidoo.

The next two weeks will be critical in flattening the curve, we don't know how long this will last and what impact it will have on all of us but please my people...

Let’s be smart, let's stay at home.

*The views expressed here are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Coronavirus Monitor

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CORONAVIRUS MONITOR