Diepsloot residents concerned over COVID-19
Residents of Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, have mixed emotions over the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
‘Operation SA’ visited the area to hand over 40 000 soaps and to promote healthy hygiene as an attempted to curb the spread virus on Saturday morning.
Tumelo Khubeka, a resident from the area, says he is not afraid of the spread of the virus as it seems the government has a handle of the matter.
“The government is doing a great job, so people here will be secure, and I think we will be healthy and the soaps they are giving us will secure that.”
However, Precious Mashashana doesn’t hold the same sentiments as Khubeka, as she is fearful for her life.
“We are afraid, actually when it reaches Diepsloot it is going to be worse. Diepsloot is a small place and it is overpopulated, it is going to be worse than other countries,” says Mashashana.
Jennet Lebakwe, who runs an early childhood centre in the area, says the outbreak of the virus has impacted her business negatively.
“Now the parents cannot pay for their schools because they are not getting paid and they cannot pay when the child is not going to crèche.”
She says parents are not paying for her services because children are staying at home and parents are not paying for the creche fees.
However she is grateful that taverns are forced to close at 6 pm and that has reduced noise levels in the area, resulting in peaceful evenings.