Traffic officer blows the whistle on Covid and stigma

A KSD municipal traffic officer, who was the first employee to test positive for Covid-19, has come in for high praise from colleagues and bosses for her attitude, especially in coming forward to disclose her status.

Nosiyabulela Vutela's decision not only paved the way for other municipal employees to get tested but inspired others who had contracted the virus to speak out.

The mother of three, who has worked for the municipal traffic department for a decade, was showered with praise and singled out as an inspiration during a Women's Day event hosted by the municipality on Monday.

Vutela, 35, said while she wanted to eliminate stigma around testing positive for Covid-19, the news that she had contracted the virus was difficult. She received her results on May 21.

“When I got a call from the doctor saying I must report to his practice the day after, I wanted to cry but there was no one to cry on,” she said. “Although the doctor did not say anything about the results,  from the questions I was asked, I just knew somehow that I had tested positive.”

Vutela's head became heavy and she wondered if she would survive until the next day.

“I just told myself I could not wait until the next day and decided that either way I was going to get my results that very same day.”

She said at the time she did not know much about the virus but had decided to call some of her superiors.

To her surprise her phone was inundated with calls from well-wishers and messages from people telling her about possible remedies she could use. It was at that point that she realised that she was not alone.

Fellow traffic officer Nobatatu Nqeketo, who tested positive in June, said she was overcome with fear.

“I called her [Vutela] and she insisted I make a pledge to myself that I will defeat the virus. If it was me who had tested positive first, I just don't think I would have come forward with my status at all like she did. She is our hero. She taught us that we needed to be positive and that we could overcome this thing.”

A total of 128 KSD employees have tested positive so far and many have recovered.

KSD municipal spokesperson Sonwabo Mampoza lavished praise on Vutela, describing her as the “whistle-blower who blew the whistle on Covid-19 at KSD” and encouraged the institution to take the pandemic seriously. He said the municipality had since done a lot to support its staff, including providing PPE.