Residents of rural provinces who have not been affected by Covid 19 are concerned the disease will spread in their provinces when migrant labourers from Gauteng return to their respective home provinces at the end of this month.
Many Gauteng migrant labourers, who are referred to as makarapas or makodukas in colloquial terms, often travel to their respective provinces at the end of the month to either pay their bills, or spend time with their loved ones or discharge their conjugal duties if married.
Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize on Thursday said the number of infections in South Africa has spiked from 116 to 150 and is likely to increase beyond 200 by Friday.
“We are quite certain by tomorrow [Friday] we would have gone much higher, probably just under 200,” said the Minister.
Mkhize made this projection at a meeting with the South African Medical Association on Thursday evening.
Of the 150 cases, Gauteng registered the highest number of infections after 76 people tested positive for coronavirus.
Residents of rural provinces fear that their neighbours who work in Gauteng and who did not get tested because they were asymptomatic, might unwittingly spread the virus when they visit their home provinces.
Thabo Modiba from Tzaneen in Limpopo, which so far has confirmed one case of Covid 19, said he was concerned that the are no publicly communicated measures to curb the transmission of the virus by migrant labourers, especially from Gauteng, when the visit their home provinces.
“Month end is around the corner, they will be here. There is nothing we can do because they have families and houses here. But we think our government must set up a testing centre at the toll gates or border towns to screen those who visit our province. Those who display symptoms must be encouraged to remain in that province until they are declared virus free,” he said.
His sentiments were shared by Gogontlefela Moleko from Zeerust, North West, which has so far not confirmed any case of coronavirus.
“So far, we have no Covid19 patient and for the status quo to remain, Gauteng residents who come here must be tested first because their province is the epi-centre of this virus. Not that we are discriminating against them but we are trying to help minimise the spread of the virus in the country,” he said.
Don Tau from Kimberly in the Northern Cape, which is also is coronavirus free, also said he was concerned that the virus might hit his shores when the makarapas return home month end.
“To be honest we are scared, but they are our children who had gone to Gauteng for job and economic opportunities and we can’t prevent them from coming here because of the virus,” he said.
Xolile Jacobs from Eastern Cape, which also has not confirmed any Covid 19 case, said he was scared that the makodukas are likely to bring the virus to their province.
“Government must restrict local movement of citizens to protect those who are vulnerable, especially those who live in the provinces that have not confirmed any cases of Covid 19. Let them get tested on the border towns, if the government has capacity to do so, before they cross into our province,” he said.
