Bitou intensifies its Covid-19 awareness campaign

In an effort to curb the rapid growth in Covid-19 infections in Bitou, the local municipality has embarked on a public awareness campaign to help residents make informed decisions about their safety and that of others. Municipal spokesperson Andile Namntu said by Monday, 422 people in the municipal area had tested positive. Of these, 288 have already recovered, but 15 people have succumbed to related complications. As of Monday the area recorded 119 active cases.

"The number of recoveries is very encouraging," he said. According to Namntu, the most recent Covid-19 report compiled by the Western Cape Department of Health revealed a rapid spike in Covid-19 infections in the area and the entire Bitou remains a coronavirus hotspot. He added that Kwanokuthula, Kranshoek and New Horizons remain major areas of concern due to the swift Covid-19 increase in those communities. "We must remain vigilant to prevent the spread and therefore plead with residents to wear their masks in public, wash hands regularly or use sanitiser, observe social distancing and avoid physical contact with others. Large gatherings should also be avoided." In response to the rapid rise in infections, Namntu said, the municipality launched a Bitou Covid-19 public awareness programme, starting in Bossiesgif from 09:00 to 16:30 on Monday 3 August. The programme is set to be rolled out in more areas in the near future.

The number of recoveries is very encouraging.

The sounds of worshipping at some churches in Knysna in the times of Covid – even as early as 06:00 on a Sunday morning – has led to residents in the surrounding communities taking to social media to air their frustration. Elaine King had a look around to try and find a mystery congregation that appears to be the main offender.

On Sunday 2 August, the sounds of Christian worship started in different suburbs of Knysna. While a small part of Upper Town was serenaded with gospel music to the irritation of some residents, a broadcast over a powerful microphone in Hornlee that started a few weeks ago not only raised serious complaints, but questions about noise pollution and how town authorities should deal with it.

The Hornlee church's "emissions" (classified as any noise that is a hindrance to another person) are so loud that the ward committee member for Hunters Home, Rexford and Fisherhaven, Richard Thorpe, is in the process of formulating a formal complaint. “The pastor starts his message at 06:00 when most people are in bed, and uses loudspeakers and amplifiers… It’s not the church service we are complaining about, but the noise and time of day.” According to Thorpe, attempts to establish which church in the Hornlee area is the culprit, or the pastor's identity, have proved fruitless so far.

Meanwhile, the mystery pastor and church had people in uproar on social media, specifically the Knysna Daily Facebook page: “What can be done about this church in Hornlee where the pastor is screaming through a loud speaker from 6am on a Sunday morning? Every Sunday for weeks now,” wondered Louise Fenner-Solomon, while Berny Bruiners said bluntly, “Aim at him with a sniper gun.”

The town's authority, however, has not received any complaints, confirmed municipal spokesperson Nwabisa Pondoyi, who added the municipality “can only help people if they first report it [noise complaint] with clear and concise information.” Early this past Sunday, residents in Knysna Central were rudely awakened by a powerfully amplified live band striking up and later performing at the Dutch Reformed Church in Voortrekker Street. The church's reverend, or dominee, Enel Lambrechts, insisted that her flock was abiding by Covidlockdown laws. Her response to residents in the area (who do not want to be named) – one of whom described the music as “an invasion of privacy and nose pollution”

– was simply: “We did get the necessary permission from the municipality and have put all the regulations into place.” Official comment is awaited from SAPS, but the municipality has to scientifically measure the decibels to determine if it is noise pollution, said spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies.