Abstract:
The year 2020 has seen the world being plunged into a health crisis due to the
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (WHO: 2020). Many South African industries were
faced with unpleasant impact from the COVID-19 National State of Disaster that was
imposed by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 15 March 2020 which
resulted in some businesses ceasing trading permanently (Stats SA, 2020).
Regardless of this situation, the Polokwane Municipality has an obligation to deliver
core or basic services in the face of the COVID-19 national state of disaster. Business
continuity took a center stage during the COVID-19 National State of Disaster in terms
of business survival, meaning that the Polokwane Municipality had to find different
ways to continue to function within the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study evaluated whether the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) in the Polokwane
Municipality is practical and realistic and whether BCP was responsive to COVID-19
National State of Disaster and lockdown regulations that were imposed as there is
minimal evidence of evaluating business continuity during pandemics except in the
healthcare sector. The study employed quantitative research method to gather data
from participants.
The study found out that, there was sufficient implementation of the BCP during the
COVID-19 National State of Disaster as confirmed by 67% respondents. The study
further revealed that the Polokwane Municipality did not communicate its BCP to all
employees regularly. Considering these findings, the study recommends that the
Municipality should conduct workshops or training on the BCP to ensure that relevant
key officials clearly understand all aspects of the BCP and sharpen their skills.
Although the Polokwane Municipality have the BCP, they should ensure that there is
sufficient funding and other resources to ensure that implementation of the BCP is
effectless and further do research to benchmark and learn from what has worked in
other Municipalities for effectiveness of the BCP.
