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27 August 2021

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Jacob Zuma ‘Asking Public For Cash Donations’ To Fight His Legal Battles The Jacob Zuma Foundation has posted an update on behalf of its patron, revealing that the 79-year-old inmate at Estcourt Prison needs to raise funds for his multiple legal battles – and fast.

JACOB ZUMA NEEDS MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC TO FUND LEGAL FEES A post on the Foundation’s official Twitter page provides banking information and a short snapshot of why the former president has turned to the public to ease his financial woes. Zuma is due back in court for his corruption trial next month, and he is also seeking to secure a recission application against the Constitutional Court.

Msholozi is no stranger to the courtroom, and that’s putting it mildly. His second term as president was dogged by acts of litigation, many of which resulted in cost orders totalling millions over the years. As he continues to appear in front of various judges, it would appear that the well has run dry – and it’s up to his supporters to find the money.

Jacob zuma foundation’s ‘humble request’ to split

opinion What some will see as a chance to support their political hero, others will markdown as a shameless cash-grab. However, the JGZ Foundation is adamant that their request remains ‘above board’, and have called for a helping hand: “Dear people of south africa and the world, please lend a helping hand. This is a humble call for legal fees, to support former president jacob zuma. We humbly request donations of support to help cover the legal fees of our patron.”

Jacob Zuma’s medical team missed the deadline to submit a report on his fitness to stand trial earlier this week.

The court had given Zuma’s military doctors until Friday, 20 August 2020, to make submissions but his legal team failed to hand over the medical review.

The former president, serving 15 months behind bars for a contempt of court offence, underwent several medical procedures last week and is still receiving care in hospital. He was admitted for an undisclosed medical condition.

OUTA Calls On Minister Mbalula To Extend Looming Licence Renewal Deadline

The deadline for drivers licence renewals is fast approaching.

Motorists have until the end of this month to renew their licence and the national Transport Department said that there would not be any further grace periods.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) is calling on Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula to reconsider.

Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage: “What we’re saying to the minister is that he really needs to think of moving the deadline again but the problem is if you don’t fix the underlying issues

you’ll be constantly extending it. We don’t want to live in a country where people are forced to behave unlawfully.”

He said that motorists were still facing many problems like long queues at testing centres, poor services and people unable to secure bookings.

Duvenage said that he was unsure whether traffic officers would consider these problems once the deadline was reached.

“What happens after that is anyone’s guess.

We would hope and think that the traffic officers would do so but we’re also very aware of a number of corrupt officers who will take advantage of the situation.”

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No Vaccine, No Alcohol Proposal For SA Branded ‘Prejudiced’

“The decision by MEC Ramathuba and the Limpopo Department of Health to approach the liquor industry to withhold their services to those that are unvaccinated is coercive.

The department needs to devise strategies to encourage vaccination that is not biased against those who choose not to vaccinate.” | Risham Maharaj

The Limpopo Health Department has been reviewing some fairly sobering proposals over the past few days, after MEC Phophi Ramathuba suggested that a ‘no vaccine, no alcohol’ policy could become law in the province.

NO VACCINE, NO ALCOHOL PROPOSALS CRITICISED The controversial idea would give liquor traders the right to refuse service to unvaccinated patrons, with the logic being that alcoholrelated trauma cases ‘clog-up’ hospital wards when COVID-19 infections are high and, therefore, something must be done to account

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for those who are vulnerable to both the effects of alcohol and COVID-19.

The method behind the apparent madness is far from convincing for most observers, however.

Risham Maharaj, who serves as an MPL in Limpopo, is concerned about the ‘prejudiced nature’ of Ramathuba’s utterances. “Phophi Ramathuba’s remarks are prejudiced. She cannot curtail the rights of Limpopo residents, simply because they display vaccine hesitancy.

While it is important that as many people as possible go out to get vaccinated in order to protect the broader population, this should be done while respecting the rights of citizens who choose not to vaccinate.”

LIQUOR INDUSTRY ‘CANNOT AFFORD’ UNVACCINATED SALES BAN As the DA’s spokesperson on health for Limpopo, Maharaj’s warning comes with a fair bit of weight behind it. Vaccine hesitancy surveys show us that about 25% of South Africans won’t get a COVID-19 jab.

Under the MEC’s proposals, the booze industry wouldn’t be able to sell to about a quarter of its market – a loss that vendors can ill-afford.

“The mec has repeatedly stated this week that her department had started dialogue with the liquor industry in the province, to refuse the sale of alcohol to unvaccinated customers. A move to refuse alcohol sales to unvaccinated customers may prove to be economically detrimental to the liquor industry in the province.”

“Liquor retailers are still limited to only selling liquor for four days in a week, and they are still reeling from the last ban on alcohol sales. Furthermore, disruption to the sale of alcohol may lead to more job losses in a province that already has unacceptable levels of unemployment and poverty.”

27 August 2021

School Holidays Will Not Be Scrapped

The Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga says there are no plans to scrap the October school holidays as had previously been suggested, but the loss of teaching time remains a concern.

Speaking to the parliament’s portfolio committee on basic education on Tuesday, Motshekga said that the previous communication from the department was that teaching time had been lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that this time needed to be recovered.

She however said this would be found “within the remaining days,” and not by scrapping holidays, Basic education director-general Mathanzima Mweli said that this was only a recommendation that had been made and that a final decision on the matter had not yet been taken.

While the education department moved the June holidays to accommodate the closure, students still lost five teaching days over the period.

Teachers’ unions opposed the plan to cancel school holidays in an effort to make up for the lost teaching time. The SA Onderwysers Unie (SAOU) said that it received communication from the DBE that the following changes would take place: That the five days from 4 to 8 October 2021 must be utilised to compensate for the lost school days; The third and fourth terms will be separated by a long weekend by declaring 23 September 2021 as a school holiday. “The absolute fixation to insist on the normal 200 school days per annum despite the fact that the world is experiencing an extraordinary period as a result of the covid pandemic makes no sense whatsoever,” Saou said.

The move was also criticized by the Democratic Alliance, which said the department should look for other ways to make up for the lost time.

27 August 2021

Unemployment Rate Hits Record High The unemployment rate has continued to rise since the last quarter’s statistics were released and has now reached a new record high.

Statistics SA released the results of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2021 on Tuesday. The report shows that the official unemployment rate went up by 1.8 percentage points from the 32.6% recorded in the first quarter of 2021 to 34.4% in the second quarter.

This is the highest rate recorded since the Quarterly Labour Force Survey started in 2008. Stats SA added that the number of employed people fell by 54,000 to 14.9 million in the second quarter. The number of unemployed people rose by 584,000 to 7.8 million, compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Stats SA also reported a rise of 186,000 or 5.9% in the number of what is referred to as ‘discouraged’ work-seekers. The number of people who were not economically active for other reasons fell by 571,000 or 4.5% between the two quarters, leading to a net decrease of 386,000 in the economically not active population.

This means that the official unemployment rate has gone up by 1.8 percentage points to 34.4% in the second quarter, up from the 32.6% recorded in the first quarter of 2021.

This is another record high.

The unemployment rate according to the expanded definition of unemployment increased by 1.2 percentage points to 44.4% in the second quarter. This means that nearly half of South Africans are now unemployed.

The firm received the required certification from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority.

It will now be able to produce marijuana for sale to consumers around the world, said founder and chief executive officer Gabriel Theron in an interview.

“The plan for the next 12 months is to go public,” Theron, 40, said at Cilo Cybin’s operations near Pretoria.

“We are planning a dual listing with the main board being the johannesburg stock exchange, and we are thinking luxembourg possibly for a

secondary listing or another bourse in europe.”

The money raised will partly be used for its cannabis business, which uses a strong South African strain known as Durban Poison with high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive chemical.

It will also be used to develop other activities such as biohacking, which is the practice of using apps or supplements to improve health.

While the cannabis industry has been legalized in a number of countries around the globe, companies are now betting that a similar shift will take place in the market for psychedelics.

Cilo Cybin has already applied for a research permit to explore the uses of the magic mushroom chemical psilocybin.

“Psychedelics can be used for anti-depressants, post-traumatic stress, for anxiety — i really think it is going to be a lot bigger than cannabis even,” the chief executive said.

Joburg Nurse Sells Negative Covid Certificates To Travellers The Johannesburg-based nurse accused of selling fake negative Covid-19 certificates to people wishing to travel to other countries has been released on R3 000 bail.

The accused, Skhumbuzo Manana, 28, appeared in the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

He is accused of contravening the Medicines and Related Activities Act, as well as fraud, uttering (unlawfully and intentionally passing off a false document (forged) to the actual or potential prejudice of another), and possession of suspected stolen goods.

Manana was granted bail and his case was postponed until the 17th of September 2021 for further investigations.

Manana, who works as a nurse at the Parkhurst Clinic, allegedly sold fake Covid-19 negative test certificates for R500 to people wishing to travel to other countries. He allegedly did this without actually conducting the necessary testing or taking blood samples to confirm the individuals as covid negative.

Allegedly his customers sent him their ID numbers and, after a day or two, they would receive a message from the laboratory, indicating that they had tested negative for Covid-19.

A complaint was later laid against Manana with the Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) of the City of Joburg. He was consequently arrested on August 21 outside his home in Turffontein during a sting operation by members attached to the GFIS unit, in collaboration with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department.

The City is trying to track all those who bought certificates from him for questioning.

Cannabis – Soon Available In A Store Near You Cilo Cybin Pharmaceutical, named after the psychoactive substance in magic mushrooms, is considering an initial public offering in the next 12 months after becoming the first South African company to win the right to grow, process, and package cannabis products.

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Cilo Cybin has built a high-tech, indoor growing facility that can produce around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cannabis flour per month.

That would sell for between $2 and $4 a gram at wholesale prices.

The company can also produce cannabis oil, which is used to treat illnesses including cancer, that sells for about $100 per milliliter, Theron said.

South Africa has awarded 28 cannabis licenses and made some regulatory headway in developing the growing sector. The region’s climate is suitable for growing high-quality products at a low cost.

With the company now able to export cannabis, Cilo Cybin is signing several international deals to enable distribution to other countries including Australia, Brazil, the UK, parts of Europe, and Israel, said Theron.

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Top SA Universities Ranked:

Wits Is No Longer Number One

27 August 2021

SIU Confirms Murdered Gauteng Health Dept Official A Witness In PPE Probe

The University of Witswatersrand (referred to as Wits) has lost its status as Africa’s top university, as chosen by the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The facility won’t be too pleased to learn who has replaced them at the summit of the log, either.

WITS LOSES TITLE AS ‘TOP UNIVERSITY’ The University of Cape Town (UCT) is now, according to the index, the best university in South Africa – AND on the whole continent.

Wits must settle for second place in both stakes, after dominating pole position for the past few years.

UCT is believed to be one of the best tertiary education facilities in the world, placing somewhere near the top 200 list. The same cannot be said for Wits, which has seen its usually favourable ranking decline in the past 12 months.

THE BEST IN SOUTH AFRICA If we arrow in on the domestic angle, nine universities feature in the global ranking list. All of these facilities make the top 1 000 institutions worldwide, but there are some significant differences between the top universities the others.

UCT and Wits are clear in their respective first and second positions, but there’s hardly any separating Stellenbosch and Pretoria – their universities are believed to be the third and fourth-best in South Africa.

The Uni of Johannesburg, UKZN, and Unisa are all grouped together in mid-table, whereas the University of The Free State props up the rest

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed that Babita Deokaran, who was a senior finance official at the Gauteng Health Department, was one of their witnesses in the probe into the PPE scandal in Gauteng. in ninth position – a fair distance away from the chasing pack.

Estimated global rank University Estimated SA rank Alumni score 201-300 University of Cape Town 1 16.9 301-400 University of the Witwatersrand 2 16.9 401-500 Stellenbosch University 3-4 N/A 401-500 University of Pretoria 3-4 N/A 601-700 North-West University 5-8 10.7 601-700 University of Johannesburg 5-8 N/A 601-700 University of KwaZulu-Natal 5-8

N/A 601-700 University of South Africa 5-8 14.1 901-1000 University of The Free State 9 N/A WHAT IS THE TOP UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD? For reference, the top university in the world – according to ARWU – is Harvard. Stanford comes in second, with MIT and Berkeley also placing in the top five.

The long-standing British institution of Cambridge is the only non-US representative in that cohort, placing in third – and securing bragging rights over rivals Oxford, who came seventh.

Grade 9s Can Now Consider Marine Science Among Their Subject Choices

It is that time of the year when grade nines are expected to make their first big career choice, which is choosing their subjects for matric.

The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation is using this time to remind this group of learners that marine science can be chosen as an eighth subject choice for 2022.

Marine science is already being presented in some node schools and is also available for online study.

Marine science was first offered in three-node schools in the Western Cape in 2019. The following year, it was recognised as an official school subject, and in 2021 it was included in the school curriculum. Since then, a number of students have been receiving tuition/instruction in the subject at the node schools and through

the foundation’s online learning programme.

Xavier Zylstra, the deputy head of education at the Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation, said the subject was perfect for learners who were passionate about the ocean and ocean life. For learners who would like to go into a career involving marine biology or oceanography, this was one of their steps to university.

“Even if you are not aiming for a career in marine biology and oceanography, the content and many academic skills you will learn will equip you to succeed in tertiary studies in other fields. You will also be a knowledgeable amateur marine biologist, with the ability to identify, to some extent, most organisms that you can expect to see while rock-pooling or snorkelling along the South African coastline,”

said Zylstra.

For learners who want to take the subject online, facilitation of the course is done via Zoom and the foundation’s e-learning platform.

The course requires a commitment of four hours a week, which is broken down into two two-hour sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. The course also has a practical learning component that will take place during the public school holidays. Examinations are written at the students’ local school or at a designated examination centre. The starting date for the next intake is January 24, 2022.

“It should be understood that only half of the subject content of the course is marine biology, while there are also components of physical science, geography, ecology and human impacts on the planet/ocean. Your marinerelated knowledge will enable you to make ocean-friendly decisions in a range of fields, like maritime economics, environmental law and a broad range of other careers directly or indirectly related to the ocean,” said Zylstra.

Westerford High School pupil Stellina van Huyssteen said: “I took marine science because I’m passionate about the ocean and all its life, and learning about it is not only fascinating, but also helps me to protect it, as well as creating many opportunities for me in the future.”

All learners, teachers and other parties who are interested in learning more about marine sciences as a subject are invited to attend an online information session at 6pm on August 24.

Deokaran was shot outside her home in the south of Johannesburg on Monday morning, just moments after dropping off her child at school. She died in hospital a few hours later.

Some of her colleagues are warning that it may have been a hit but the SIU said that it was not jumping to conclusions and wanted to allow police time to do their work.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago: “Police are not sure at this stage how it will affect the investigation but like I said, she is one of many [witnesses].

Obviously, there are many others that will go into use related to this particular investigation.

We want to allow the law enforcement agencies, in this particular case, the police, to investigate this matter. We will cooperate with them if there’s anything that they need from us as the SIU.”

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27 August 2021

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27 August 2021

Bishop Zondo given one Nosicelo Mtebeni murder case week to prepare for trial postponed to 28 September It is alleged that one of the victims that Bishop Zondo allegedly repeatedly raped is a family member.

Bishop Stephen Zondo has been given one week to prepare for trial. Zondo, 55, head of the Rivers of Living Waters Ministries, is facing nine counts of rape.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, said Zondo has also been charged with contravening the Sexual Offences Act and defeating the ends of justice.

It is alleged that one of the victims that Bishop Zondo allegedly repeatedly raped is a family member.

It is further alleged that Bishop Zondo raped the victim in 1980 while she was eight or nine years old, while other victims that were allegedly raped and/or sexually assaulted by him were members of his congregation.

At least seven of Zondo’s other victims were

adults and were allegedly raped at a hotel in Johannesburg, Evaton and at the church’s Robertsham branch.

Zondo is accused of offering one of the women R25 000 to drop the charges against him.

Defence requests more time Mahanjana said the trial was set to start this week, however, the defence requested the matter be postponed to 30 November as they were not ready to proceed.

“The state advocate opposed the postponement stating that the defence had enough time to prepare for the matter and that the state was ready to proceed with the trial. The judge granted the defence a one-week postponement.

The matter was postponed to 30 August 2021 for trial,” she said.

Last week, the NPA announced that charges were withdrawn against Bishop Israel Makamu following a consultation session with a woman who claimed that he had made sexual advances towards her when she was 18 years old.

“Makamu was released on R2000 bail after making a brief appearance on a charge of sexual assault at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court on May 26, 2021,” NPA spokesperson in Gauteng, Phindi Mjonondwane said.

The case against the 25-year old suspect arrested for the alleged murder of Nosicelo Mtebeni, the 23-year old Fort Hare student whose body was found chopped and stuffed in a suitcase has been postponed to 28 September.

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani there is still evidence that needs to be collected, eyewitness statements as well as the suspect’s confession.

“At the moment we have witnesses, one witness said she saw him leaving with the bags which carried the body parts,” Ngcakani told media.

Police say they have a water-tight case against the suspect who is accused of brutally murdering the final year LLB student and then dismembering her body and dumped her remains in suitcases in Quigney in East London.

Initial reports suggested that Nosicelo’s head, neck and hands were not found in the discarded suitcases that were found on the street corner near the residence she shared with the suspect.

However, police confirmed they found more remains at the residence, including 2 suitcases with body parts.

Students held a night vigil for the latest victim of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country and joined activists to picket against the murder of one of their own.Nosicelo’s family is said to be traumatised after learning about the gruesome manner in which she died.

Family spokesperson Teboho Mtebeni spoke to the media over the weekend and said Nosicelo

was a beacon of hope for her family.

“As the family of Nosicelo Mtebeni we are truly so hurt about that, we are truly so hurt about it. It’s an incident that is so cruel in the area of Quigney in East London.

I cannot even express my feeling about it. We were looking forward that she is going to change the situation within the family but now it is not going to happen. Like that she is no more.”

The family have called on people to stop sharing the gruesome images of Nosicelo’s remains on social media as it is very disturbing to her loved ones who are grieving her loss.

“We are not happy about the social media in this country, we have just seen gruesome images on social media without being told what actually happened.

We were hoping that the police will inform the family and the community in a decent manner but the images were just all over, we are not happy at all.”

Technical Problems Put Brakes On Train Services In Parts Of Gauteng Metrorail has temporarily suspended some services in Gauteng due to technical problems relating to diesel locomotives.

The diesel locomotives are currently being used for the hauling of commuter trains due to the unavailability of overhead traction equipment (OHTE), some of which were extensively vandalized and stolen during the prolonged lockdown period.

“The train services affected by the suspension are lines operating between Pienaarspoort and Pretoria, and the recently introduced second train operating between Leralla and Johannesburg,” said acting Gauteng Metrorail spokesperson Tony Games.

He said the train services between Naledi and Johannesburg and the trains between Leralla and

Elandsfontein have not been affected and were operating according to schedules.

“The Leralla-Elandsfontein service has been extended to Germiston, to allow commuters to access economic opportunities,” said Games.

“Metrorail management is working around the clock to speedily resolve this challenge. Metrorail would like to sincerely apologise to its valued commuters and employers about this temporary suspension.”

Last year, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said economic sabotage should be the charge that criminals who vandalise and steal railway equipment face when they are arrested.

He said the charge of theft for vandalism of railway equipment was just not working.

“The Criminal Amendment Act of 2015 approves the question of people being charged

with economic sabotage but that has not been happening. We have arrested people in Heidelberg and they have been appearing in court. I told the administrator to work with the police and the justice department and make an example of these people,” said Mbalula.

“They get charged with theft for vandalising entire networks and sabotaging people from going to work. Certain lines coming to a halt, signals not working, trains vandalised by criminals they are nabbed and what do they get? Nothing.”

27 August 2021

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Julius Malema ‘In Trouble With SANDF’ Gauteng Leads 18 To 34 Age Group’s Following His Latest Twitter Post Rush To Register For Covid-19 Jab

Julius Malema found himself in SANDF’s bad books following a post he shared over the weekend. The EFF leader claimed to have received a text message from a soldier, who purportedly said that no food had been provided for his starving colleagues.

ARMY HITS BACK AT JULIUS MALEMA The post, shared several thousand times, has since forced SANDF into some online diplomacy.

Despite not mentioning Julius Malema by name, their recently published statement heavily references the Twitter post on his feed.

Responding in typically regimented fashion, SANDF suggested that Malema ‘could be prosecuted’ for choosing to share ‘baseless misinformation’ with his 3.6 million followers on

the platform.

Army officials have conceded that there was an issue with food supplies, but according to the top brass, this has since been taken care of. Malema’s offending post still remains active, as of 14:30 on Monday.

“SANDF is highly concerned by ill-intended social media comments about the alleged withdrawal of soldiers. We dismiss with contempt, and scoff at the baseless insinuations that are aimed at causing panic. Perpetrators of such insinuations are reminded that it is an illegal and prosecutable offence to spread fake news or misinformation.”

“We acknowledge that there were challenges with ration packs and meal allowances. These received the necessary attention. It is outright disingenuous to suggest that soldiers are starving and considering withdrawing for the mission.”

Rock Stars: Videos Of Spectacular ‘Meteor Shower’ Over Gauteng

“The SA Astronomical Observatory initially said that it was not a meteor shower but actually bolide or the upper stage of the Chinese Yuanzheng-1S rocket being deorbited” South Africans shared various videos of the recent meteor-like object that was spotted in the skies on Tuesday evening.

After Dr Daniel Cunnama, science engagement astronomer at the SA Astronomical Observatory initially said that it was not a meteor shower but actually bolide or the upper stage of the Chinese Yuanzheng-1S rocket being deorbited, South Africans still took to social media to share footage of the event on social media.

It seems that South Africans were left amazed and confused as to what they were seeing. Social media users shared a range of videos in which balls of light can be seen appearing out of nowhere,

shooting across the sky then disappearing again.

The Citizen reports that many social media users have been debating about what they saw.

The publication sites earthsky.org, which states that every year from around 17 July to 24 August, Earth crosses the orbital path of Comet SwiftTuttle, the parent of the Perseid meteor shower.

Debris from the comet litters the comet’s orbit, but we only get to see the comet rubble after the first week of August.

“The bits and pieces from Comet Swift-Tuttle slam into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at some 130 000 miles (210 000 km) per hour, lighting up the nighttime with fast-moving Perseid meteors,” reports the publication.

More than 184,000 people between the ages of 18 and 34 have already registered on the Electronic Vaccine Data System since it opened at midnight.

From Friday, people in this cohort can either register at home or make their way to vaccine sites to register for their vaccines which are being rolled out from today.

Young adults in Gauteng account for the largest portion of those who have already registered on the EVDS portal, with 73,000, followed by the Western Cape’s 53,000 and then 27,000 in KwaZulu-Natal.

“We can now cut out administrative and bureaucratic red tape – as long as you have an ID, it means you are over 18, you can be registered,” Health Minister Joe Phaahla said.

He acknowledged that there were many benefits to opening up registration and vaccination sites for those 18 and older earlier than planned.

He said that this would make the vaccination drive much easier and more effective – from vaccinating people at their workplace to those at universities.

Phaahla said that this was also good news for women who were pregnant and who mostly fell under this age group.

“Pregnant women who are mainly between the age of 18 and 34 – the majority are in this age group – can also be vaccinated and protected.”

There are an estimated 17 million people in this cohort and government hopes that opening up the rollout to these young adults will lead to a significant rise in vaccine update.

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Gold Up For Grabs As Tokyo Paralympic Sport Starts 27 August 2021

Athletes will compete for dozens of gold medals in Tokyo on Wednesday as the 2020 Paralympics, delayed by a year due to the pandemic, finally gets underway as new coronavirus cases surge in Tokyo. The first golds will be up for grabs in cycling, wheelchair fencing and swimming.

There will be 16 medal events in the swimming alone on Wednesday, while four gold medals each are up for grabs on the cycling track and in wheelchair fencing.

The national stadium hosted the colourful opener on Tuesday night, themed around the story of a one-winged plane trying to fly, in tribute to the tenacity of thousands of paraathletes competing at this year’s Games.

“Many doubted this day would happen, many thought it impossible, but thanks to the efforts of many, the most transformative sports event on Earth is about to begin,” International Paralympic Committee chief Andrew Parson said. Despite the triumphant atmosphere after a year-long pandemic postponement, with beaming athletes dancing their way into the stadium, the spectre of coronavirus will hang over proceedings. The 68,000-capacity stadium in central Tokyo was almost empty, as venues will be throughout the Paralympics, because of virus rules barring almost all spectators.

Still, for athletes who have spent years preparing, the competition will be all that matters.

Competition is also getting started in some of the team sports including wheelchair rugby, the

often brutal clash dubbed “murderball”.

Stars appearing Wednesday include Brazilian swimmer Daniel Dias, who is competing at his last Paralympics and has the chance to become the most decorated male Paralympic swimmer of all time.

He already holds a haul of 14 gold, seven silver and three bronze medals, and could overtake the current record holder if he can snag another three golds.

Australian wheelchair rugby player Ryley Batt will also be hitting the court in a faceoff with Denmark as the Aussies bid to become the first team ever to win three straight gold medals.

RECORDS SMASHED Athletes were already shattering records in heats. Britain’s Sarah Storey began her bid to make Paralympic history in style Wednesday by smashing her own world record in heats of track cycling’s C5 3,000 metres individual pursuit.

Storey has the chance to add three golds to

her haul and eclipse swimmer Mike Kenny, who won 16 golds between 1976 and 1988, as Britain’s greatest Paralympian.

The virus situation continues to weigh on the event though, with organisers on Wednesday reporting 16 new positive virus cases linked to the Paralympics, including two athletes in the Paralympic Village, whose identities have not been disclosed.

The new cases bring the number of infections linked to the Paralympics to 176, most of them Japan-based staff or contractors.

The Games are beginning with Japan tackling a record surge in infections, with 13 regions including the capital under a virus state of emergency.

The measure, which largely limits bars and restaurants from selling alcohol and shortens their opening hours, is to be expanded to a further eight regions as the government attempts to check the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Japan has recorded around 15,500 deaths from the virus, and around 40% of the population is now fully vaccinated.

Olympic and Paralympic organisers have insisted there is no evidence of infection spreading from Games participants to the Japanese public.

All those involved in the Games have to abide by virus countermeasures including regular testing and some limits on movement.

But some experts have warned that holding the Games has undermined the government’s messaging on the virus, encouraging people to go out and mingle.

Visiting teams must fear Kaizer Chiefs at home Bruce Bvuma, Kaizer Chiefs’ CAF Champions League hero, upped the ante by calling on his teammates to turn FNB Stadium into a slaughterhouse ahead of today’s clash against Baroka FC. Chiefs will be at home for the first time this Premiership season, and Bvuma, the chosen goalmouth custodian for the match, wants opposition teams to come to grief at FNB Stadium.

“We need to dominate home games and make FNB Stadium like a slaughterhouse for visiting teams. They must be scared to come and play there,” Bvuma said.

“We will welcome them but will show them that this is our home ground. It should be a lesson to visiting teams that it will not be easy to get a win against us at FNB. “It is important that when we play Baroka, we mean business.”

Baroka were impressive in their league opener against Marumo Gallants, winning 2-0. It was the most emphatic victory in the eight games played over the weekend and took Baroka to the top of the standings.

Bvuma said the team watched the game and are hopeful that they can pick up maximum points against the visitors.

“We watched them once this season, and that was in the opening game, which they won,” said Bvuma.

“It was a good result for them. I recall last season we collected two points from them.

This time, we would like to take maximum points from them. We know it will not be easy, but that is our target.”

Bvuma will be buoyed going into the match as he is one of five Chiefs players who have been called up to represent Bafana Bafana in their upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He felt that Amakhosi are ready to make

the step up and build on the weekend’s performance against TS Galaxy.

“Everyone is looking sharp at training and ready for the game on Wednesday. We are looking forward to the new season and make sure we create our new memories,” Bvuma said.

“We missed maximum points from the opening match, but let them (fans) keep supporting us.

They will not be disappointed. We will give them a win.”

Stalwart midfielder Bernard Parker, who was this week named as club vice-captain for the season by coach Stuart Baxter, is on the verge of a career milestone.

To date, he has played 355 matches for Chiefs and scored 58 goals.

One more goal will see him overtake Siphiwe Tshabalala as Chiefs’ all-time top scorer in the PSL era in all competitions. @Herman_Gibbs

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