This as the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Obed Bapela, is also expected to oversee the process in Rustenburg as part of the nationwide screening. On Monday, premier Job Mokgoro and his Covid-19 command council, which include MECs, oversaw the screening at Motswedi village outside Zeerust. He said the screening at the village came after a Botswana national, who is now dead due to the virus, recently attended a funeral at the village. This was to make sure that the virus does not spread to the locals. Meanwhile, the province so far has 11 cases with the Bojanala district municipality, which include Rustenburg, with 7 confirmed cases of the Covid-19.

The spokesperson for the national department of CoGTA, Legadima Leso, says the screening of communities is part of the ongoing government programme announced by the president to reach as many people as possible. "This important work of government will go a long way to save lives." 

In addition, the Deputy Minister will also join the hand-over of sanitisers to vulnerable communities around the Rustenburg area," Leso adds. 

Meanwhile, the MEC for Health in the province over the weekend said the department has taken a decision to force its identified Coronavirus patients and their contacts to remain under its supervision after another positive person went awol.

This is the third case where a patient leaves a place of quarantine without telling the authorities in the province. 

MEC Madoda Sambatha said the latest patient was tracked down on a farm at Welkom in the Free State after attempts to locate her in Bloemhof failed last week. Sambatha said the patient has now been put under the care of the department.

OFM News