17 August 2021
www.tametimes.co.za
Who Is Slowing Down The Vaccination Rates In Gauteng
Tell: 011 862 8500 - Fax: 086 241 5648
Covid-19 Patient Zero Info Revealed
A chief in the World Health Organization has allegedly admitted that the world’s first COVID-19 patient may have been infected after being bitten by a bat while working for a Wuhan laboratory in China. Dr. Peter Embarek, who had initially dismissed the notion that the virus escaped from a lab as unlikely, now admitted that this is a very real possibility. The shocking admission caused outcries around the world. The coronavirus has destroyed lives and wrecked economies since it first came to light in 2019. Millions have died and new variants continue to emerge as wave after wave kills more people every Gauteng Premier David Makhura has faced
in younger age groups, older citizens remain
however, is men in general. Only four in 10
day.
up to some uncomfortable truths on Friday,
relatively resistant to the inoculations.
eligible males have signed up to receive their
Dr Embarek led the World Health Organization
revealing that the vaccination rates in his
“What is our major concern right now is that a
jabs so far – way below the rates of women
probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic
province are relatively low – and it’s largely
lot of people aged over 60 haven’t even gone
in Gauteng. The Premier says this is causing
in China. He reportedly suggests that a Chinese
down to men.
for their first jab yet.
‘real problems’.
researcher could have been infected by a bat while
These are vulnerable people, just over half of
“Our vaccination programme has reached
taking samples in connection with research at a
WHO ISN’T GETTING THEIR VACCINES
them have been vaccinated. It’s so important
many women in Gauteng. But just 43% of
Wuhan lab.
IN GAUTENG?
after this third wave, people cannot just go out
men have had their jabs.
By Thursday evening, the total global number of
Of course, there are also concerns about
and do everything they wish.
In some regions, we have real problems
laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeded
vaccine uptake in the elderly. Those aged
When people are vaccinated, problems are
with men. We commend the women of this
204.7 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins
60 and over haven’t exactly flocked out in
easier to deal with.”
province, and the young people too – they
University in the United States of America. The
their numbers either, with just over half of
Vaccination rates: men identified as ‘real
have been amazing, especially those aged 35
number of confirmed deaths stands at more than
the provincial population in that age group
problem’ for uptake
to 49.
4.32 million. Over 4.54 billion vaccination doses
getting their shots. Despite the enthusiasm
Makhura stated that his main concern,
They have driven the numbers up.”
have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.
NuDebt is a thriving, preferred debt collection and payment solutions company in South Africa. WE STRIVE TO WORK HARDER AND SMARTER
Tel: 011 724 5702 | Fax: 086 688 2002 | info@nudebt.co.za
02
17 August 2021
Petrol Price To Increase AGAIN In September
Gauteng Education Department Processes 100 000 School Applications
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has processed more than 100 000 successful phase one grade eight school applications online in just four days. Although no petrol price increase is ever a welcome one, the picture for September does look a little less stressful than what we’ve witnessed over the past few months. Meanwhile, there’s good news for diesel and paraffin users. YES, IT’S ANOTHER PETROL PRICE INCREASE… Following a series of devastating increases – creating a record petrol price in the process – the situation seems to have stabilised this month. According to the Central Energy Fund, the 95 Grade of petrol will rise by a meagre seven cents per litre, and 93 grade is on course for an uptick of just two cents p/l. The wholesale cost of diesel is set to go DOWN by 12 cents per litre, and illuminating paraffin will also inch towards a cheaper value, by seven cents per litre. Despite this minimal relief, there’s not a great deal to celebrate. Any increase whatsoever will set a new record for the petrol price in Mzansi. Currently, worth R18.30p/l inland, motorists have never had to manage such misery at the pumps. Diesel will also remain above R15.50p/l in some parts of SA.
AA ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING
Board tripping? No power? No hot water?
Contact Emily on 011 860 8500 to advertise your business on our classifieds page.
We do all electrical work (C.OC) NO CALL OUT FEE 060 406 7675 011 44 01616
Your clients are seeing this. When they could be
seeing your advert.
Book your advertising spa Bo Call 011 862 8500.
WHAT’S THE REASONING? Both the Rand and international oil markets are responsible for dictating just how much we’ll have to fork out for fuel each month. ZAR has been up and down recently, meaning that there’s no real foundation for a drop in the petrol price. The price of crude oil has stalled, and although that’s stopped our domestic costs from ballooning with inflation, it does nothing to make fuel cheaper on these shores. With two weeks between now and September, the picture could change substantially. But according to the Central Energy Fund, the early signs are underwhelming for us all. WHAT WILL THE PETROL PRICE BE IN SEPTEMBER 2021? According to the latest projections, this is what we’ll be paying for fuel (per litre) from the start of next month: COASTAL REGIONS Petrol: R17.65 Diesel: R14.90 INLAND REGIONS Petrol: R18.37 Diesel: R15.51
This was after the department opened its online admissions application system on Tuesday 10 Aug. “We can confirm that there has been more than 100 000 successful Phase 1 applications,” the Gauteng Education Department said in a statement. By Wednesday, 11 August 2021, applications surpassed the 50 000 mark, with more than 52 000 successful applications reached on the second day of the 2022 Online Admissions in Gauteng. By noon on Friday the Gauteng Education Department had recorded 104 504 successful applications. The department said GDE staff had handled an average of 5 000 calls a day at its contact and walk-in centres across the province. “Our gratitude must also go to our parents and guardians whose patience and understanding has made this process smoother. Applications began smoothly on Tuesday with some parents having to overcome a few challenges, including incorrect ID number/home address – even after parents/guardians had
verified their personal details at schools,” the department said. “Some parents also raised concerns about not receiving assistance with the verification of details from schools. Indeed, our backoffice support – including the Districts and schools – has been extremely busy providing assistance to parents and guardians so that they are better able to navigate the system. We would like to encourage parents who have not yet verified their information to communicate with their children’s schools to check if schools updated details,” the department said. The department said that if this did not help, then parents were encouraged to visit our district offices and walk-in centres or call the GDE’s Contact Centre 0800 000 789. Phase 1 applications, which started on 10 August 2021 and will end on 3 September 2021, are for parents and guardians whose children are currently in Grade 7 at a public school in Gauteng and will be going to Grade 8 in 2022. Phase 2 applications will begin on 13 September 2021 and will focus on parents and guardians whose children will be going to Grade 1 or Grade 8 in 2022 but are not in a public school in Gauteng, this will end on 8 October 2021.
17 August 2021
Gerda het u hulp nodig
My naam is Gerda Beukes van Alberton, Gauteng. Ek is 42 jaar oud, getroud, en die ma van twee kinders. Ek is gediagnoseer met Motor Neuron Siekte (MNS). Dit is dieselfde siekte wat die bekende rugby speler, Joost van der Westhuizen, gehad het, en wat uiteindelik sy dood veroorsaak het. Dis ‘n terminale siekte wat progressiewe verlamming veroorsaak. Ek is reeds in ‘n rolstoel en van my nek af ondertoe verlam. Ek het 24 uur hulp nodig met basiese behoeftes soos eet en bad. Toe ek gediagnoseer was, was my prognose net twee jaar. Op daardie stadium was my kinders nog bitter klein. Dit was vyftien jaar gelede. Die eerste tekens van die siekte het in my linkerhand begin en ek het kort daarna die linkerarm se gebruik verloor. Daarna het dit versprei na die regterarm en hand en uiteindelik na my bene. Ek was angsbevange, want ek kon sien watter spier se gebruik ek volgende gaan verloor. Met elke verlies het ek weer deur die rou-proses gegaan. ‘n Vriendin het vir my eendag beskuit gebring. Ons het baie daarvan gehou en ek het haar gevra vir die resep. Nadat ons dit ‘n paar keer self gemaak het, het ek die idee gekry om ‘n bakbesigheid te begin.
So het ek en my helper Prisca, Prisca’s Kitchen begin om ons inkomste aan te vul. Voor die siekte het ek my eie besigheid in die finansiёle bedryf gehad. Met die siekte en die verlies van een inkomste is ons finansiële druk groot. Met ‘n siekte soos MNS het ek meer as een keer by die dood omgedraai. Ek was eenkeer vir ‘n noodoperasie vir diep veneuse trombose. Ek moes ook al vir ‘n peg-tube inplanting gaan, nadat ek vir 21 dae nie kon sluk nie. My liggaam het die tube verwerp en die wond het septies geraak as gevolg van ‘n lekkasie. Dit het meer as ses weke gevat vir die wond om te genees. Nou onlangs het ek ‘n weerstandige bakteriële infeksie gekry wat my sluk beinvloed het. Die Covid-19-pandemie het ons as ‘n gesin meer as ooit ingeperk, ons kon nêrens heen gaan nie. Dit het ook geldelike druk veroorsaak omdat my bakbesigheid tydelik moes toemaak. Selfs nadat ons weer begin bak het, het dit maande gevat om weer op dreef te kom. Ons het twee keer in die verlede die geleentheid gehad om as ‘n gesin see toe te gaan. Wanneer ek met die gewone rolstoel op die strand wou gaan, moes my man agter trek en my kinders voor stoot soos in ‘n rugbyskrum. ‘n Strandrolstoel sal vir my die geleentheid gee om dit makliker te doen en ek sal ook in die water kan gaan
daarmee. Ek het ook ‘n hoist wat baie help. Selfs die kinders kan my met die hoist van die bed af op my stoel sit of terug op die bed. Die hoist is al tien jaar oud en ek is die vierde person wat dit gebruik. Omdat dit elke dag gebruik word is die hoist gedaan. Ek beplan om nog lank hier te wees en sou graag ‘n nuwe hoist wou kry, om dit vir dié wat daarmee werk, makliker te maak. ‘n Nuwe hoist kos R60 000.00.
Skenk hier: www.backabuddy.co.za/gerdabeukes
Sassa To Launch 5th Platform As Thousands Apply For Covid Grant South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) on Wednesday said it was in the process of adding a fifth platform because it was dealing with heavy traffic on its website as thousands of people had been applying for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant.
On Tuesday night, the agency said it had over 5,000 people per minute on its website. As a result, the system slowed down. Last week, when applications opened there were 2,000 people applying per minute. Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said people could access WhatsApp, the Govchat app, Chatbot and Facebook Messenger. “Govchat came and opened another platform and people managed to use all other available platforms.” He said 800,000 people last year applied when the system opened. This time round they received 3.5 million applications within days.” Letsatsi said people could apply any day in
August and would still get the August payment if they qualified. “We will definitely introduce another platform, but when another platform is ready, we will
announce so that people can use it as well because as an organisation, we are aware that some people may not have access to smartphones.”
To advertise, call us on 011 8628500
03
Disney+ Coming To South Africa
The Walt Disney Company has announced that its popular Disney+ streaming service will launch in South Africa. In its 3rd Quarter 2021 earnings call on Thursday (12 August), the group said that South Africa will be included in the next country rollout which will take place in ‘summer 2022’ (northern hemisphere). A Walt Disney spokesperson confirmed that this means the service will launch in South Africa in the southern hemisphere winter of 2022. The spokesperson confirmed that further information, including pricing, will still be confirmed. “As confirmed in the walt disney company’s q3 earnings call, disney+ will launch in south africa in winter 2022. We will share more details as we approach the launch next year,” the spokesperson said. Disney+ grew to 116 million subscribers in the third quarter ending which ended 3 July 2021, beating the 113.1 million that analysts expected. With its Disney theme parks back open after the Covid-19 shutdown, Disney said that earnings rose to 80 US cents a share, excluding some items, beating the 55 cents analysts estimated. The results show the world’s largest entertainment company is rebounding from the pandemic, which shuttered its resorts around the world, idled its cruise ships, and decimated attendance at movie theatres. Walt Disney Chief executive officer Bob Chapek said theme-park reservations are running ahead of the just-ended period, despite the delta variant of Covid-19. Disney expects to be fully staffed at all its resorts by year-end, after tens of thousands of layoffs in 2020. “The fact that you’re seeing bookings as strong as they are is an indication of the core reason you want to own disney,” said markus hansen, a portfolio manager at vontobel asset management inc. Disney shares rose by as much as 5.9% to $189.88 in after-market trading. They lost 1% this year through the close Thursday in New York, compared with a 19% gain for the S&P 500. The Disney company’s direct-to-consumer unit – the home of its streaming business – narrowed its loss in the quarter, due to improved results at the Hulu online service. Meanwhile, movies released online, such as “Cruella” and “Luca,” as well as new TV shows from the Marvel superhero factory, drove customers to subscribe to Disney+.
VISIT
17 August 2021
Jean-Luc du Preez recalled to Springbok squad Jean -Luc du Preez has been recalled to the Springboks squad as cover at lock and flank for Saturday’s second Test match against Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. The 26-year-old joins his twin brother, Dan, who was called up before the first match against the Pumas last week and enjoyed a cameo off the bench in the second half. Both twins had been part of the initial 45-man Bok squad that had a training camp before the friendly against Georgia but both were in a group of five players who were cut when coach Jacques Nienaber reduced the size of the squad following the South Africa ‘A’ matches against the Lions and the Bulls. “We have a physically demanding Rugby Championship campaign ahead, which includes a long tour to Australasia, and given the strict protocols in place to call up players to Australia due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we opted to draft Jean-Luc into the group sooner rather than
US
ONLINE WWW.
TAMETIMES .CO.ZA
READ THE PAPER
ONLINE
later,” said Nienaber. “He is a seasoned player and understands the demands of playing competitions such as this, and over and above that he is familiar with our structures, so we are looking forward to seeing him back in the mix.”
Du Preez, who cut his professional rugby teeth at the Sharks in Durban, currently plies his trade with the Sale Sharks in Manchester. He has been capped 13 times for South Africa and is equally at home in the second and back rows.
Roland Schoeman ‘Submits Application’ To Become SA’s Sports Minister
As a veteran of four Olympics and 10 individual world records, swimming legend Roland Schoeman knows a thing or two about elite sporting performance. Boasting a gold, silver, AND bronze medal on his mantlepiece, the ambitious athlete has now set his sights on his biggest challenge yet – becoming the country’s Sports Minister. Schoeman submitted his application to
Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday, uploading his credentials on social media. He has sent a letter off to the President, and hopes to be seriously considered in any upcoming Cabinet reshuffle. The sports portfolio falls under Nathi Mthethwa’s remit, who also oversees matters of Arts and Culture. As part of his application, the three-time Olympic medalist listed his credentials: He has championed his ‘real world
experience’ as a key asset, distancing himself from ‘self-serving ministers’. Roland Schoeman is opposed to ‘the politics and ideology of identity’, promoting a ‘non-racial approach’ instead. CABINET RESHUFFLE ALREADY ON THE CARDS. The request was made after Roland Schoeman went toe-to-toe with Fikile Mbalula on Twitter. Mthethwa, formerly the Sports Minister in a previous administration, was lambasted for failing to support South African athletes properly – and ‘underperformance’ is an issue that has resurfaced at the Tokyo Olympics. “I don’t remember [fikile mbalua being a champion]. We had to beg for money. I’d like to put my name up for nomination for south african minister of sport in the presidency’s upcoming cabinet reshuffle. “I’m committed to every single south african no matter who being given as much opportunity to represent our country. ”Meanwhile, Schoeman secured his first political endorsement, from DA Shadown Trade Minister Dean Macpherson:
SEND US
YOUR NEWS VIEWS
& STORIES