Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Drones '¯Spread Word About COVID-19 in Rural South Africa Marize de Klerk JOHANNESBURG - Drones are helping to spread'¯messages from the sky on how to prevent coronavirus infection'¯in the far-flung, poor, rural areas of'¯northern'¯South Africa. The Greater Tzaneen Municipality has been pioneering the use of drones'¯in South Africa as a tool to educate people about'¯COVID-19'¯prevention in'¯local languages and monitoring potential hotspots.'¯So far there is only one coronavirus infection in the municipality. COVID-19'¯ has changed many things in South Africa.'¯'¯'¯ In the Greater Tzaneen Municipality'¯in northern'¯Limpopo Province,'¯the mayor's voice, warning about the virus, comes from a drone in the sky.'¯'¯ With'¯only three hospitals in the entire district, extensive coronavirus prevention efforts are'¯needed, says Mayor'¯Maripe'¯Mangena via Skype.'¯'¯'¯'¯'¯ '¯"We are able to access all people. A drone'¦'¯when'¯it flies, when it hovers above the communities, it fascinates, it intrigues people," said Mangena. "People want to listen. People want to hear what is the message that is being said."'¯ A licensed drone service provider is carrying out the messaging at potential coronavirus hotspots under the direction of South African authorities.'¯ Speaking via Zoom, Ntiyiso Aviation Services managing director'¯Jack'¯ Shilubana says the Greater Tzaneen Municipality was the first to use'¯this drone solution his company offered to raise COVID-19 awareness.'¯'¯ "They've got a perception that we're talking about a whole lot of money that you spend in this exercise," he said. "And others will probably ask and say,'¯'But why don't you provide water?''¯'¯And it's that balancing'¯act '¯you'¯know, in terms of how much technology cost you, but the value that you derive from an exercise such as this one."'¯'¯ Drones are well suited for this purpose in rural areas'¯--especially in Africa--says the South African '¯Federation of'¯ Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Speaking via Skype, head chairperson of the federation Sam Twala says drones provide more value for the money.'¯'¯ "In Africa, that's where drones'¯[are]'¯going to find better use to even other areas in the world, or other countries in the world, simply because of the particular challenges we have," he said.'¯ "And'¯ when it comes to things like your cost,'¯ that's'¯ actually where'¯drones add much more value, because'¯'¯drones'¯offer that advantage where you can tactically place your people."'¯'¯ Local Tzaneen media report that spreading the message on'¯COVID-19'¯ prevention'¯by drones seems to have helped keep down infections. Newspaper and video streaming service Far North Bulletin's editor Joe Dreyer spoke via Skype. "I believe'¯it helped. And I believe'¯that without the drones broadcasting these messages to these people in the'¯far-off'¯areas, they wouldn't have known," he said.'¯ COVID-19 has hit South Africa the hardest of any country on the continent, with nearly 5,000 confirmed infections and at least 90 deaths. President Cyril Ramaphosa last week said a nearly five-week lockdown has curbed the spread of the virus and a phased'¯easing'¯of the restrictions would begin. .