It’s only nearing towards the end of March, and already 2020 has been a horrific year for countries around the world. Countries in Asia, Europe, as well as the U.S., have particularly experienced the worst effects of the coronavirus.
With nearly the entire world on lockdown, the President of South Africa, Cyril Rhamaposa, has called for a national lockdown of the country from the 26th of March to the 16th of April 2020. Although this is considered to be extreme measures, it must be implemented during this strenuous time, especially because Africa cannot afford a pandemic due to its lack of resources. However, apart from the potential lack of medical attention in the country, which if cases continue to rise in South Africa, could get unmanageable, residents in rural areas are worried about not being able to wash their hands properly or even at all as they are recommended to.
Thousands of Residents Don’t Have Access to Water in Khayelitsha
Washing your hands during the pandemic, which has already reached over 700 cases by the 25th of March in South Africa, residents risk catching the virus. Currently, there are regions in the country that doesn’t have access to water resources, and in Khayelitsha, they have protested as a result thereof.
Residents are protesting, ‘Where is the water to wash our hands?’, a serious issue that needs to be tackled by local municipalities and the government during this time where everybody needs desperate access to water. Up until now, residents still don’t have water and have placed demands that it be provided to the informal settlements in Khayelitsha immediately. The protests took place just outside the Cape Town Civic Centre a few days before the nationwide lockdown. Residents are appalled by the government who are telling them to stay safe and wash their hands, which they are still not able to do.
