Locals' plans for after lockdown

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Four weeks into lockdown, residents have no choice but to spend time at home with family or be home alone. A few locals shared what will be first on their to-do list once lockdown is over.

Deon de Vos (Mayor)
After lockdown, I want to finalise the integrated development planning and budget process, to start consultations. I also want to speed up vacant directors appointments and submit my proposal for the cleanest town in Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality, which I worked on during lockdown.

I learned from the lockdown that poverty and hunger is rife within our communities, but there is still a lot of goodwill within society.

When all spheres of government and civil society work together, we can do more and faster.

Mayor Deon de Vos working from home.

Samantha Graham-Maré (a member of parliament)
I want to move into my new house. Everything, including the lodging of the sale, is on hold. Me, my husband and my daughter are very excited to move into our own house.

I have learnt that balance is extremely important. I have cherished spending time with my husband, my daughter and our animals, but I also adore my work and I miss being in parliament. I love what I do and where I do it!

Samantha Graham-Maré and her husband, Rodney, enjoying a braai during lockdown.

Gerrie Germeshuizen (businessman)
First, I will have to buy my father, Tiens (90), cigarettes because he only planned and shopped for the first session of lockdown. Secondly, I just want to enjoy a nice drive through the surrounding nature. I just want to get out of the house.

Gerrie Germeshuizen and his father Tiens at home.

Mervin Mackelina (teacher)
I'm starving for a beer. I'm going to buy a six pack.

During this period, I learned the importance of sanitation and washing your hands. My contact with people during the lockdown has become a challenge to drive the message of social distancing and sanitation. The lockdown has given me ample time to do house chores, which I neglected.

Mervin Mackelina busy in his garden.

Emelda Jacobs and Rita Koota (teachers)
As soon as the lockdown is over, we will get dressed and go to our favourite restaurant to enjoy our favourite meal. We will also take a long drive on the open road.

We have learned during the lockdown that we took so many things for granted and were too busy being busy; we let life get in the way of what was important.

After this trying time, we can't go back to being the same people we were before. God saw that we were lost and He stepped in.

Rita Koorts and Emelda Jacobs enjoying time on their porch.

Natasha Peterson (Government Regional Communications Coordinator - Sarah Baartman District)
The first thing I will do when the lockdown is lifted is to visit family and friends. I think the value of family and the preciousness of life is something the lockdown has taught all of us. It also helped us to discover new ways of living. Hopefully, we can incorporate those lessons as we move forward.

Hannes and Carol-ann van Jaarsveld (business owners)

The first and most important thing that we want to do after lockdown will be to hug our children and grandchildren. We all live in the same town, but we cannot visit each other.

However, even when the lockdown is over, we will still have to have our own lockdown because Hannes had an organ transplant and his immune system is very low.

I don't like gardening but I have learned to prune spekboom, otherwise, it will take over our garden.

Carol-ann van Jaarsveld trimming spekboom during lockdown.