High levels of Covid-19 compliance, but still not enough

09 March 2021

The City’s Environmental Health staff continue doing hundreds of compliance inspections at a range of premises, including funerals and undertakers, shops and even Early Childhood Development Centres.

‘The compliance inspections are part of our overall public safety efforts. It is an opportunity to gauge whether businesses are doing their bit to mitigate the risk of Covid-19 exposure, and to help address shortcomings through education, awareness and practical guidelines. Where there are serious issues or ongoing non-compliance, fines will be issued, although we prefer helping businesses get on the right track, as a fine isn’t guaranteed to change behaviour.

‘The findings of the compliance inspections are also shared with other spheres of government, particularly the National Department of Health, to help build an overall picture of how we are faring in the ongoing fight against Covid-19,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

For the period 26 February to 4 March, Environmental Health practitioners conducted inspections at 846 premises – 797 (94%) of which were found to be compliant.

The premises included:

Fines were issued in six instances, with the rest of those not fully compliant being served with written instructions.

Environmental Health practitioners will visit premises again to ensure that they have acted on the instructions and should they find continued non-compliance, fines will be issued. 

‘While our Environmental Health Teams are seeing reasonably good compliance in some areas, we remain concerned about the limited adherence seen on our beaches, parks, public transport interchanges, inside public transport and outside SASSA offices. With the anticipation of a third wave as soon as May, it is every individual’s responsibility to comply with the Covid-19 regulations which remain in place. We need people to continue wearing their masks, sanitising, observing social distancing and limiting their movement where possible.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on life as we know it, and we all have to continue doing our bit to limit the risk of exposure. Additionally, through the share of vaccines allocated to the City by the Provincial Government, we have thus far vaccinated 490 City Health staff members. The City will continue its vaccination drive in order to ensure that health care workers are vaccinated ahead of the third wave,’ added Councillor Badroodien.

Residents are urged to report any concerns to the City’s Covid-19 non-compliance hotline number, which is 021 444 3582.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office