Inner City Gazette

y

e

Fre

Full &

p Co

everyday

lessons running

Grade R -11 Metropolitan College 170 Pritchard Street Tel – 011 402 9502

Est 2009 Issue 49 - 2020

Tel : 011 402 - 1977 Inner-City Gazette

Cell: 087 510 2023

Email : info@inner-city-gazette.co.za

@ICG_Sales

17 - 24 December 2020

Website : www.inner-city-gazette.com

072 824 3014

Inner City Gazette

High Covid-19 infection risk “It’s essential to do symptom checking for every staff member returning to ensure that those infected do not infect others. Those with Covid-19 symptoms should work from home or not come to work. If they test positive, they should self-isolate for 10 days from onset of symptoms.”

Dr Rebaone Moshenyane

“One of the flaws of screening is that many people with Covid-19 are asymptomatic, and do not know that they are infected. We recommend an antigen test which detects Covid-19 infection for high risk staff members. Results are available within one hour.”

Johannesburg - There will be high Covid-19 risk in the workplace in January, and employers need to put measures in place for when staff return to work, according to Dr Rebaone Moshenyane, occupational medical practitioner at Workforce Healthcare.

She says: “Your staff may spend December in Covid-19 hotspots like the Eastern and Western Cape or may go to restaurants and bars.

Companies need to implement proactive measures to avoid a corona virus outbreak in January.”

Dr Moshenyane outlines measures that employers should implement. “It’s essential to do symptom checking for every staff member returning to ensure that those infected do not infect others. Those with Covid-19 symptoms should work from home or not come to work. If they test positive, they should selfisolate for 10 days from onset of symptoms.”

Dr Moshenyane says some employees have complained that the

screening process takes too long because security staff are not properly trained, and often do not know what to do when someone presents symptoms.

“Employers need to make sure this is addressed so that all employees are properly screened. Our network of nurses across the country can also support employers,” says Dr Moshenyane.

Symptomatic employees can go to their own doctors, but companies should explore options for virtual consultations, Dr Moshenyane says.

“These consultations allow employers to easily monitor whether the employee has in fact consulted with a GP and are referred for testing if necessary. The GP will also decide whether the employee should be tested for Covid-19.

Once tested, the staff member must share the result with their HR department or manager, and follow the doctor’s orders.”

Dr Moshenyane adds that adults

with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19, and employers have a duty to identify and protect them.

“These include people suffering from conditions like heart disease, HIV, diabetes, asthma and cancer. Many employers do not know how many vulnerable employees they have. The new Department of Labour guidelines state that companies with more than 50 workers have to identify vulnerable employees. An app such as the one available through Workforce Healthcare and HLC can help with this.

Employees do not have to indicate their condition, but they have to let their employer know that they have a chronic illness. Companies are obliged to accommodate them and ensure they are safe or make another plan if the workplace is not ideal. One of the flaws of screening is that many people with Covid-19 are asymptomatic, and do not know that they are infected. We recom-

mend an antigen test which detects Covid-19 infection for high risk staff members. Results are available within one hour,” she explains.

She adds that the contacts of infected employees must be traced to avoid further spread of the disease.

“Contacts exhibiting symptoms should go to a GP while those asymptomatic should self-quarantine for 10 days and inform their doctor if they develop symptoms. This is easily done via the Covid-19 support line, while tracking and tracing and follow up calls are done with employees to track if they begin to show symptoms. It can also help with any anxiety they may be experiencing.”

Moshenyane recommends that employers do a new risk assessment in January after re-opening offices.

“Risk assessments determine the standards for social-distancing and sanitiser availability so the risk of Covid-19 is reduced in the workplace,” Dr Moshenyane says.

2

Inner-city Gazette

News

17 - 24 December 2020

Businesses sell

Looking forward High Schools - a Having run a successful classroom and teacher based High School for a number of years, whilst achieving 100% matric pass rate and culminating in an award for “top school in the district” Ivy Academy has now gone fully digital!

Says Chief Executive Eli Katz: “Our extensive experience, gained over many years, together with lessons learned, positions us uniquely in introducing a leading state of the art high school in the cloud that actually solves the various challenges associated with digital learning.

This is achieved by providing the technology, teachers and proactive support to ensure student success.

A key differentiator is the ability to harness the power of the technology to track and support learners ensuring “no learner is left alone.”

Ivy has been providing a training solution to some of South Africa’s largest financial service providers, by means of providing an employee benefit whereby school going children of staff receive free additional high school support.

Ivy Academy is a registered distance education provider with SACAI and caters to the NSC (National Senior Certificate). It is targeted at the home-schooling audience.

Ivy Academy provides learners with access to a digital platform where learners have the ability to study remotely or utilise one of the computer support centres.

As additional support to learners, Ivy’s dedicated team of experienced and SACE registered teachers, provide telephonic and email assistance.

The mode of delivery includes access to scheduled live classes as

to the future of pivotal approach

personal data Companies that collect client data are attractive targets to cybercriminals, and therefore always at risk of a data breach. They also have more to lose if they get hacked.

Tech Reporter

C

well as pre-recorded lessons, digital e-books, podcasts and a realtime diagnostic tool to track and record learners’ progress.

Online education allows the teacher to be able to track specific performance which would result in the educator being able to pinpoint areas in which the learner needs improvement.

This will result in learners achieving far better support in their learning journey resulting in improved performance in examinations.

The platform will enable learners to compile and build their digital Portfolio of Assessment (POA) in line with the requirements for NSC certification.

The teaching and learning is enhanced by the use of Adaptive Learning, gamification and Artificial Intelligence.

Ivy Academy is proud to be contributing to the enhancement of learning environments wherever a learner may find him or herself.

Ivy Academy is well suited for those wanting to take advantage of high-quality education at affordable rates, less travel, and a more independent style of learning with state-of-the-art technology.

Parents and students who are interested in enquiring about grade 10-12 for CAPS curriculum can email info@ivyacademy.co.za. or WhatsApp 011 551 9019.

ustomer data is a valuable commodity for businesses, as they use it to improve and market their products, but some companies profit from selling the data to other businesses, according to the Atlas VPN security team.

The team says one in 10 businesses globally sell customer data to third parties. The numbers are based on the Kaspersky Global Corporate IT Security Risks Survey, which features data from interviews with 5 266 IT business decision-makers from 31 countries globally.

The interviews were conducted in June 2020 and released in November 2020. The survey reveals that around half of businesses worldwide collect client data. A total of 48% of small and medium businesses (SMBs) and 52% of enterprise representatives reported that their companies gather information about their clients. One-fifth of these businesses (18% of SMBs and 21% of enterprises) also sell that data to third parties.

Chief operating officer of Atlas VPN, Rachel Welch says people can better protect their data online.

“Nowadays, people face a challenge of balancing privacy and usability. They cannot control how securely companies store their information, or in whose hands their data might end up. However, people can make sure that they limit the

Atlas VPN COO Rachel Welch

information they reveal online. Using a VPN, reconfiguring your device’s privacy settings, and reading Privacy Policy before you sign up for a new service are just some of the things I would recommend to protect your personal data better,” Welch says.

While 24% of SMBs and 21% of corporations do not currently gather customer data, they plan to do so in the upcoming 12 months. A quarter, 25%, of small and medium businesses and 23% of enterprises do not collect any customer data. The remaining 3% of SMBs and 4% of corporations do not know whether they collect client data.

Companies that collect client data are attractive targets to cybercriminals, and therefore always at risk of a data breach. They also have more to lose if they get hacked.

SMBs that collect customer data typically lose around US$117 000 per data breach, 37% more than their counterparts that do not collect user data.

Enterprises that gather customer data also suffer 62% more financial damage due to data breaches.

On average such enterprises lose US$1.3 million per data breach.

17 - 24 December 2020

Patrollers to enforce Covid-19 rules in taverns Own Correspondent

O

n Monday the beer industry announced deployment of 500 patrollers to ensure Covid-19 compliance is effective at liquor outlets across the country.

This is to ensure that patrons wear masks, social distance and feel safe when visiting taverns and other liquor outlets.

The patrollers will work in tandem with the police, the stakeholders said.

The Beer Association of South Africa (Basa) and other stakeholders indicated that a number of stricter measures were being rolled out to ensure that health and safety regulations were adhered to this festive season and beyond.

Basa CEO Patricia Pillay said one of the reasons for this is to

Inner-city Gazette

3

News

Concern over equal access to vaccines “Rich countries may hoard Covid-19 vaccine stocks, and use intellectual property rights to block access to developing countries.”

Basa CEO Patricia Pillay

ensure that they continue trading, because the industry simply could not afford to be shut down again.

“You will see these 500 patrollers around the country, in visible presence getting into the taverns, shebeens, and restaurants. When you see them be aware that they will be reporting to the license boards and more,” Pillay said.

Liquor Traders Association of SA convener Lucky Ntimane said they introduced training programmes for liquor outlet staff.

“We are having a programme called tavern compliance focus groups, which seeks to educate liquor traders to ensure they comply and ensure their patrons are wearing masks and follow all protocols. There will be zero tolerance for liquor traders who ignore the compliance rules,” Ntimane said.

Johannesburg - On Monday International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor acknowledged fears that rich countries may hoard Covid-19 vaccine stocks, and use intellectual property rights to block access to developing countries.

“Vaccine nationalism is a real threat, as it will create supply problems to poorer countries, thereby denying their citizens access to the vaccines,” she said.

Pandor said the African Union Commission and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are paying close attention to the matter, while also seeking ways to ensure all countries have access to the vaccines.

“Defeating this virus still requires countries to collaborate and work with multilateral institutions, to ensure that all people access the required health and medical interventions, and that they benefit from economic and social measures re-

quired for a sustained response to the pandemic,” she said.

She added that government would continue Africa’s focus on the postCovid-19 economic recovery.

“In April this year United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres stated that the Covid-19 pandemic would be a humanitarian crisis,” she said.

Guterres also called for the increased levels of cooperation and solidarity from all nations.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa advocated for international solidarity during the United Nations General Assembly this month, as the pandemic proved that no country could operate in isolation.

“As African Union chairperson, South Africa initiated a coordinated Africa response that focused on addressing the challenges to public health systems in Africa, and measures to mitigate the economic and humanitarian crisis. This included establishing a Covid-19 Response

Minister Naledi Pandor

Fund and launching an African Medical Supplies Platform, to ensure all countries have access to the necessary equipment and supplies,” she said.

The African Union (AU) has also developed a vaccine strategy. The Covid-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), in support of the Africa Vaccine Strategy, is tasked with ensuring that vaccines are available for Africans.

“Building on the call made by the UN secretary-general, the African Union has also called for a comprehensive economic stimulus package for Africa, and the suspension of interest payments on Africa’s external and public debt,” Pandor said.

4

News

Inner-city Gazette

Covid-19 testing at roadblocks

Part of this Resurgence Mitigation Plan will include screening and testing on key access routes Johannesburg - In a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 during the festive season, law enforcement operations may include screenings for symptoms and even rapid antigen tests to tell in a few minutes whether someone is infectious.

These preventative measures will be for motorists and travellers returning to Gauteng towards the end of the holiday period.

Concerns around the movement of residents from low-risk transmission areas like Gauteng, to highrisk areas and hotspots like Nelson Mandela Bay, have been raised by health experts who include ministerial advisor Professor Salim Abdool Karim.

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s confirmation of Nelson Mandela Bay as a Covid-19 hotspot, provincial governments seek to add roadside screenings to their safety campaigns.

Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Kwara Kekana said they are concerned about travellers returning from hotspot areas, and how this could result in increased infection in Gauteng.

“There shall be heightened sur-

overseas visitors are screened for Covid-19 symptoms upon arrival, Kekana says similar systems can be integrated into roadblock operations.

“If needs be, roadblocks for screening purposes will be at strategic areas as was done during the first surge, particularly after the festive season. Those identified with symptoms will immediately be isolated and tested,” Kekana said.

The Gauteng health department has also suggested the use of rapid antigen tests, which produce results within 15 minutes, where resources are available and most needed. Those displaying symptoms may undergo a nasopharyngeal or oropharynGauteng Health spokesperson Kwara Kekana geal PCR swab test.

Kekana said testing includes veillance all over the place as well the usual temperature screenas aggressive health promotion and ings, basic symptoms such as fever, communications activities that talk cough, sore throat, body weakness, to this concern,” she said. loss of taste and smell and difficulty Part of this Resurgence Mitigation in breathing.

Plan will include, where feasible, “Where the department has the screening and testing at roadblocks facilities, they will be tested on the on key access routes into Gauteng. spot at the roadblocks, if not they In line with the containment strat- will be referred to the nearest health egy enforced at airports, whereby facility for testing,” she said.

If a test is positive, the person will have to self-isolate in quarantine.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that public transport will be subject to compliance inspections at roadblocks over the festive season. Long distance taxis are allowed to load 70% capacity and must have windows open for better ventilation.

17 - 24 December 2020

Users urged to reduce electricity consumption In the previous week the power utility had to implement rolling blackouts because of a number of breakdowns Johannesburg - On Monday Eskom announced that the power supply system was still constrained, but there was no risk of load-shedding so far. But the utility has advised consumers continue reducing their usage of electricity.

In the previous week the power utility had to implement rolling blackouts because of a number of breakdowns. The load-shedding was however called off on Sunday, as enough emergency gen-

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha

eration reserves were recovered, according to the utility.

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said users still have to reduce their use of electricity.

“We have just over 8 200 megawatts of capacity out on planned maintenance, and Eskom teams are doing the best they can to get these machines back in service.

We urge people to continue reducing their usage of electricity, and we thank the people of South Africa,” Mantshantsha said.

Stringent Covid-19 restrictions Johannesburg - President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the sale of liquor from retail outlets will only be permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday, and the national curfew has been extended from 11pm to 4am.

On Monday he said non-essential establishments including restaurants and taverns have to close at 10pm so that staff and patrons could get home before curfew enforcement.

“The curfew is to prevent gatherings that go on late into the night while enabling restaurants and taverns to operate and earn an income.

The curfew also applies on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve,” Ramaphosa said.

No more than 100 people are allowed at indoor events and no more than 250 at outdoor events. He add-

ed that all post-funerals gatherings were prohibited.

“Further restrictions include all passengers in vehicles being required to wear masks, restaurant managers ensuring that all patrons wear masks, and employers ensuring all employees also wear their masks,” he said.

The president said Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are leading the second wave of Covid-19 infections; and most new infections were among young people, those in the of 15 to 19 years age group.

“The daily average of Covid-19 deaths has increased by nearly 50% in the last seven days from just over 100 deaths a day to over 150. Gatherings, especially social gatherings and parties, are the largest source of Covid-19 infections,” he said.

Tips to prevent

stokvel robberies Johannesburg - Police have issued advice on how to prevent robberies involving stokvel money savings.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele warned community members to refrain from sharing cash at their homes or at secluded places.

“Refrain from withdrawing large amounts of money from the bank for sharing. Make sure that you do electronic transfers through the bank. This will prevent would be criminals from robbing you,” he advised.

Working together as community and police can subdue escalation of stokvel money robberies, he added.

17 - 24 December 2020

Inner-city Gazette

News

5

RASA chief bemoans capacity restrictions Johannesburg - Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) CEO Wendy Alberts has bemoaned the 100 customer capacity Covid-19 restriction for pubs and restaurants during the festive season, saying it will have a negative impact on the industry.

She says she received confirmation from Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane that only 100 customers would be allowed in pubs and restaurants during the festive season from 15 December to 3 January 2021.

“I received a call from the minister who advised me that the number restrictions will be limited to 100 people; and applies to all restaurants, pubs and bars, regardless of the size of the establishment for the holiday season. This has massive negative impact for us operationally and economically.

I am sure it will impact immediate staff layoffs, Unemployment Insurance Fund UIF, Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme benefits,” she said.

Alberts previously disputed that the restaurant industry largely contributed to the resurgence of corona virus infections.

A man pushes a trolley laden with alcohol at a Joburg liquor shop

Boozers urged to drink responsibly RASA CEO Wendy Alberts

“There is no evidence to suggest that we are responsible for spreading it. No contact tracing has been done in the sector, and no authorities have come to collect our registers. No authorities have contacted any establishments to follow up. Government needs to take responsibility and look at interventions, and work with the industry. Covid-19 will be here for long, but we can’t keep crippling our industry, our economy, and increase our state of despair. It’s just before the festive season, jobs are needed, and we need support from government,” Alberts said.

Gunman arrested in CBD

Johannesburg - This festive season South Africans have been urged to drink responsibly so that hospital resources can be available for Covid-19 patients.

Last Wednesday Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that the country has entered the second wave of the corona virus infections.

He said the number of infections had increased around the country, with most provinces showing an increase.

“The Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are the key drivers of this new wave.

That increase is indicates that we have moved from the time we were at 10 % infection rate, and it is set to rise substantially.

This rise shows that there will be exponential growth, which means we must expect faster rising numbers with a higher peak than the first wave,” Mkhize said.

Johannesburg - On Monday po- in committing serious and violent lice arrested a 37-year-old man for crimes and investigation is underpossession of an unlicensed firearm way,” Mbele said. and ammunition at corner Lilian Johannesburg Central station comNgoyi and Eloff streets in the Jo- mander Brigadier Perumal comburg CBD. mended police for removing an Police spokesperson Captain Xoli unlicensed firearm from the wrong Mbele said officers on routine crime hands. He added that the unlicensed prevention saw a suspicious white firearms are used by criminals Toyota Hiace vehicle skipping red to rob and kill innocent people. traffic lights at an intersection.

“They gave vent enue or all your chase and stopped the anel eating vehicle. They searched the and pray two occupants Weddings and recovered ainting a firearm with live rounds End of year from one of graduations them.

He failed to produce a license Birthday parties to possess a firearm and was arrested.

Call for bookings The firearm will be sent for ballistic testing to ascertain if it was used

E

F P

P

B S

for

V

Hire

Contact Charles on:

060 738 8851

082 637 4500

On Monday the country recorded about 7 999 Covid-19 infections, affirming fears that the country is dealing with a resurgence of the virus.

The last National Health Department update placed the country’s case load at 860 964. On the recovery front, 761 011 people had recovered.

Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal have been identified as key resurgence drivers.

Western Cape government spokesperson James Brent-Styan said at as Covid-19 infections continue to rise,

hospitals are filling up, and alcohol abuse is a major concern for the weeks ahead.

“When it comes to the use of alcohol in the weeks ahead, we ask people to be responsible as our emergency rooms and ICUs are struggling to hold up, and making space for alcohol-related trauma cases might be very difficult in the weeks ahead,” Brent-Styan said.

Gauteng still accounts for most Covid-19 cases, followed by the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.

6

Inner-city Gazette

17 - 24 December 2020

17 - 24 December 2020

Inner-city Gazette

Theatre presents immersive Empire Builders audio experience

Basa programme closes with wrap ceremony Sne Mdiya

The Empire Builders is based on the writer’s childhood experience of the Nazi occupation; and written at a time when French colonialism in Africa and Asia was coming to an end

B

Arts Correspondent

I

n its third year of support for the Kwasha Theatre Company, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and The Market Theatre Lab present Boris Vian’s The Empire Builders with an immersive audio experience.

The play, in three episodes of 20 minutes each, will be available as a free and open access online experience via the project’s website throughout February 2021, with a series scattered throughout the month.

The project also seeks to reach an audience through partnerships with schools, other theatres, community organizations and radio stations.

The Empire Builders is based on Vian’s childhood experience of the Nazi occupation; and written at a time when French colonialism in Africa and Asia was coming to an end.

Written by French writer and jazz musician Vian in 1957; the story centres on the Dupont family, Leon, his Anna, their daughter Zenobia and servant Mug. While they once lived in a spacious

7

The Arts

Jim Azelvandre, MaryBeth Griffith and Molly Cyr in The Empire Builders

apartment with many luxuries, fear upon hearing “the noise” lured them to move up one floor. This chaotic action occurs several times throughout the show; each time the family finds the space is smaller, they forget some object or a door disappears. Their world is narrowing; floor after floor, members of the family mysteriously leave or vanish.

Kwasha director Dintshitile Mashile says the play addresses themes such as alienation, selfishness, self-deception, prejudice, memory, masculinity and the incomprehensibility of existence and meaning.

“This play lends itself to political interpretation and so does South African history which features the absurdity of the human condition at its core. This sense of both confinement and the absurd relates rather well to the 2020 experience; speaking directly to time and the repetition of history; using radio play as a medium that began way before my time and fusing it with theatre made for audi-

ences both young and old,” Mashile adds.

The play was rehearsed, mapped and recorded at the Barney Simon Theatre at the Market Theatre, with a device that enhances the perception of sound with both ears of the listener, as if the listener is in the same world as the players, ultimately manipulating space and time. With sound captured and additional elements added by sound designer Yogin Sullaphen, the piece promises to create a crisp and exciting world and story for an audience to further imagine from.

French embassy cultural attaché Selen Daver says the collaboration with Kwasha is more than simply producing a work for audiences to enjoy.

“We also invest in young theatre makers and their skill set in this collaboration, so it is fantastic to see how the medium pushes the performers and director to discover new ways to connect to audiences,” Daver says.

Visit www.ifas.org.za and www.markettheatre.co.za websites.

usiness and Arts South Africa NPC (Basa), in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), concluded their three-year stint as collaborators of the Scale-Up Programme with a wrap event reflective of this year’s approach, in response to current circumstances.

A virtual Zoom event took place on 8 December to close this year’s activities. In this third year of the programme, Basa and RMB expanded the scope, with the addition of Phase 2, which included a mentorship and funding component.

Phase 1 of this programme kicked off between 29 July and 11 August.

This was followed by an adjudication process, between 2 and 8 September, facilitated by an independent panel of creatives within the arts sector. It concluded with selection of 21 applicants who advanced to Phase 2.

The ‘Scale-Up 21’ received augmented mentorship support, with 10 of these receiving R15 000 each towards growth of their businesses, organisations. The full list of 21 recipients is on https://basa.co.za/programmes/scale-up/2020-top-21/.

Basa head of programmes Boitumelo Motsoatsoe says the second phase allowed the programme to deepen its impact and to scale up.

Q

uotable

uotes

By Prophet Philip Banda

BASA head of programmes Boitumelo Motsoatsoe

“This edition of the programme developed stronger relationships with alumni so that we could offer support and track progress beyond the programme,” she says.

Perhaps the most significant addition to this year’s programme was inclusion of the four-part Care and Connect Workshop series, coordinated with Visual Art Network South Africa (Vansa). It provided a well-rounded experience for participants to access resources to develop healthy mental strategies, as well as tools to identify mental health risks.

RMB representative Siphumelele Lucwaba said: “This is a great initiative, practical and relevant, but it is so great to hear from all participants how they experienced the programme. Good luck to everyone.”

PHOTOGRAPHY Contact: 072 824 3014 Email: moshegraphy@gmail.com Instagram: @moshe_photography

Services

PHOTOGRAPHY

Studio photo shoot Wedding Anniversary Funerals

Communities to miss festive season soccer

Sports Reporter

O

wing to the Covid-19 pandemic communities shall miss festive season soccer tournaments that include the KwaMahlobo Games, which would have celebrated its 24th edition this year.

Over the years community members gathered to celebrate football with a carnival of festive season tournaments.

The annual festivities have become part of the local soccer scene, where young talent showcases their raw skills, while also promoting social cohesion.

The organising committee and stakeholders were monitoring the situation, and with the Covid-19 second-wave now a reality, a decision was taken to cancel the event, which had been set for 23 December to 5 January.

However, the revamped KwaMahlobo PreSeason Games could kick off early next year,

while the Easter Games are also a possibility.

Tournament director Fats Nhlapo said: “The safety of players, staff, fans and stakeholders is of utmost importance, and we encourage people to stay safe, wear masks, practice good hygiene and avoid crowded places.”

Run by the South African Football Association (Safa) in conjunction with key partners Spanish La Liga and the City of Joburg, the cancelation is a prominent dent in the 2020 calendar.

Safa spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi said: “The KwaMahlobo tournament has become the benchmark of festive season football, and allows budding players the perfect platform to market themselves to scouts from all around the country. The games have always unveiled big talents, but the Covid-19 pandemic has dealt us a major blow. However, safety comes first, and the games will come back bigger and stronger next year.”

KwaMahlobo Games action during a previous event

VIDEOGRAPHY Adverts Music videos Birthday parties