A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS 14 September 2021
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Call For Protests Against Covid-19 Vaccination ’Passport’
During aweekly vaccine update last Friday, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said South Africans who were vaccinated against Covid-19 would probably be issued with digital vaccination certificates in about a week’s time. A growing opposition to a ’vaccine passport’ has erupted on social media with many South Africans calling it a violation of civil liberties. The strong stance online against these ’vaccine passports’ has now evolved into a call for protests across the country this Saturday. A tweet with posters for the protests in the different cities was published by Lonwabo Mfundisi on Twitter on Sunday night, shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the movement of the country to lockdown level 2. It read: “It’s time to rise the #VaccinePassport are here. Let’s put down the keyboard and be at these venues. Vaxx or not vaxxed your freedoms are being taken slowly. Retweet.” A ’vaccine passport’ is a certification of either vaccination status or immunity following a
natural infection that confirms you no longer pose a risk to others. Advocate Vuyani Ngalwana said the vaccine passport was “BS” and “opaque political speak”. “I will not be forced to carry a pass in SA in the 21st century. NO,” he posted. While many supported the opposing stance, some brushed off the call for protests as just another Twitter rant. Twitter poster, Ernie @Mohlakeng3 called on the SA Police Service to investigate. “There we go again, @SAPoliceService we are tired with loot instigators hiding behind rallies. Please investigate this guys. Rona re batla ho lo berekela future of our kids and they busy disturbing the peace. Tsek.” Some of the reactions: During aweekly vaccine update last Friday,
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Health Minister Joe Phaahla said South Africans who were vaccinated against Covid-19 would probably be issued with digital vaccination certificates in about a week’s time. He said ’vaccine passports’ would probably be non-negotiable. “Covid-19 passports are likely to be nonnegotiable in a post-Covid-19 world. Exactly how the world goes about it, is still up in the air. Regardless of this, the news that South Africans will soon have access to a digital health certificate is good news all around, ” he said. Phaahla said the certificate would be available through a person’s smartphone, and could then also be printed out. However, it’s not only South Africans who are against carrying a vaccine passport. UK changes its mind The UK government recently dropped its plan to make people in England show vaccine passports to enter crowded events such as nightclubs. UK Health minister Sajid Javid announced the u-turn, saying the government did not view the move as necessary in the current virus situation, citing high vaccine uptake. Javid also said that the idea of compulsory showing of documentation at leisure venues made him uncomfortable.
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Food Poverty Line Now At R624: Stats SA
The food poverty line increased to R624 in April this year, up from R585 the previous year, Statistics SA (Stats SA) said in its release of the National Poverty Lines 2021. This amount per person per month, also known as the extreme poverty line, is the amount an individual will need to afford the minimum required daily energy intake. Apart from the food poverty line, there are two other inflation-adjusted national poverty lines. The lowerbound poverty line, of R890 per person per month in April 2021 (up from R840 in April 2020), refers to the food poverty line plus the average amount derived from non-food items of households whose total expenditure is equal to the food poverty line. The upper-bound poverty line refers to the food poverty line plus the average amount derived from non-food items of households whose food expenditure is equal to the food poverty line. The upper-bound poverty line in April 2021 price was R1,335 per person per month, up from R1,268 in April 2020. Stats SA said on Thursday the national poverty lines were constructed using the cost-of-basic-needs approach which links welfare to the consumption of goods and services. It said poverty lines were important tools that allow for the statistical reporting of poverty levels and patterns. In 2007, Stats SA was officially tasked by the government to establish a threshold that could be used in standardising the money-metric measurement of poverty for the country. Stats SA said the national poverty lines were developed to improve the country’s ability to target developmental policies and programmes. It said the national poverty lines were not designed to be used for determination of equitable share to provinces, setting the national minimum wage and determining the amount to be paid for social grants.
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14 September 2021
Leaving A Legacy Mauritius Ends Its Ban On SA Travellers For Your Loved Ones As a nation, we have had to navigate another level 4 lockdown and watch helplessly as friends and family lose their assets and experience the stresses associated with the recent destructive riots. We’re a unique nation, though, and our tenacity and determination to keep the spirit of Ubuntu alive, saw communities, individuals and corporates coming together to uplift those in dire need.
Mauritius has lifted its ban on South African travellers, with fully vaccinated visitors able to explore the island nation without being confined to a specific resort from 1 October.
Mauritius has spent most of the pandemic shut off from the rest of the world. Ongoing travel restrictions have had a devastating impact on its tourism industry, which accounts for almost a quarter of the island’s total economy. In a bid to resuscitate the tourism sector, while keeping Covid-19 infections down and increasing vaccine coverage across the island, Mauritius embarked on a phased reopening which officially started on 1 September. Under the banner of enjoying a “hotel holiday” in Mauritius, vaccinated travellers have been confined to selected resorts. This first phase, which ends on 30 September, allows vaccinated visitors to access beaches, pools, and other facilities within the perimeter of the hotel or resort. South African travellers have, however, been excluded from the first phase of Mauritius’ reopening, with the island nation upholding its travel ban and suspending flights. The second phase of Mauritius’ reopening will include visitors from South Africa, as confirmed by the Mauritian government’s decision to lift its ban on Friday. “We welcome the decision by the Mauritian government. South Africa remains a proximity and priority market for tourism on the island,” said Arvind Bundhun, director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA). “We are delighted that we will be able to restart our long-standing relationship after an 18-month ban on travel.” But while the ban was ended on Friday 10 September, authorised commercial flights will only resume from 1 October, aligning with the second phase of Mauritius’ reopening. Air Mauritius has previously confirmed its intention
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to resume direct flights between the island and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo on 1 October. At the start of the year, local low-cost carrier, FlySafair, confirmed that it would be introducing flights to Mauritius once travel restrictions had been eased. The MTPA also lists Comair – which operates Kulula and British Airways locally – as an authorised commercial airline company due to return to Mauritius, although a return date is still to be confirmed. “South Africans have been longing for the Mauritius they know and love, from white sandy beaches and clear blue seas and skies to our warm and friendly people, and so much more. Mauritius is ready and we can’t wait to welcome South Africans back to our beautiful country,” said Arvind Bundhun. Fully vaccinated South African travellers – those who have received either two doses of the Pfizer vaccine or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson – will still need to present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. All visitors will also need to complete a health self-declaration form and passenger locator form. Unvaccinated travellers will still be allowed to enter Mauritius, with a negative PCR test, but will be confined to a 14-day hotel quarantine.
In crazy times like these, we often find ourselves struggling to get to all our commitments as we come to terms with our ‘new normal’. Days seem to roll into weeks, and weeks into months, and we often end up asking: “where did the year go”. The reality is that most people are living month to month and have very little time to think about the future – never mind thinking about the legacy they want to leave behind one day. This year has shown that it’s particularly important that we place emphasis on ensuring that we leave a lasting legacy for our children and future generations. In the face of adversity, and as the death toll related to Covid continues to rise, we are reminded that life can be unexpected. We need to prepare accordingly. The reality is that most people know they need a Will, but statistics show that South Africans are notorious procrastinators. More than 75% of South Africans pass away without a valid Will in place, causing devastating consequences for their families and dependants. To help combat this statistic, the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) promotes National Wills week, every year, encouraging more people to take this task seriously and get their affairs in order. Participating attorneys offer their Will-drafting services for basic Wills at no cost to clients. This year, National Wills Week is this week. The Law Society explains that it is important to have a professional draft your Will as “often a Will is not valid because the person who drafts it does not have the
necessary legal knowledge to ensure that the requirements of the law are met. By making a Will you ensure that your assets are disposed of in accordance with your wishes after your death”. With more than 75% of South African’s passing away without a Will in place, it’s not necessarily an awareness issue – it’s an education issue. People need to know what consequences their families and dependants will face if they were to pass away without a Will. In our business, we see the reality of families struggling to deal with the loss of a loved one almost every day. This struggle is infinitely more difficult when the loved one’s affairs are not in order. Your Last Will and Testament is probably the most important document you’ll ever sign, and it forms the cornerstone of your Estate Plan. Six consequences of passing away without a will: 1) You forfeit the opportunity to decide who inherits what and your Estate is distributed according to South African law. This means people whom you may not have wanted to benefit from your Estate may inherit your assets and family heirlooms. 2) Your Partner may be left with nothing if you are not married, or your Will is not updated from a previous marriage. 3) Your Children’s inheritance could pass to the Government Guardian’s Fund or appointed Guardian rather than to a Trust that will ensure your wishes for them are carried out. 4) Family feuds often occur when family members argue over the distribution of your Estate if your final wishes are not clearly documented in a Will. 5) Winding up your Estate can take years without a Will appointing a professional Executor, the Government is essentially in control of the process. 6) You lose the ability to nominate a guardian of your choice for your minor children.
14 September 2021
The most important document you’ll ever sign 13 to 17 September is National Wills Week; it’s time to get your affairs in order.
We’re all familiar with the popular idiom: death and taxes (“the only two certainties in the world”). The topic of Wills is often avoided because, let’s be honest, it’s not always pleasant to think about what would happen if you were to pass away. Making proactive plans to protect your loved ones and ensure that your legacy is left as you intended it, needn’t be a doom and gloom topic. It’s the responsible thing to do and we should be discussing it more openly and more often. Your Will is probably the most important document you’ll ever sign and the consequences of passing away without a valid Will in place can be dire. Without a Will in place, everything
you leave behind is distributed according to intestate succession law – which is usually not in line with your plan for the inheritance that you’ll one day leave behind for your loved ones. If you have any assets in the form of money, jewellery, property, investments etc., or if you have children who are minors, you need to have a valid Will in place. “75% of South Africans pass away without a valid Will in place.” Every year the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) promotes National Wills Week, where they encourage law firms to offer free Will drafting in an effort to raise awareness around the importance of Wills. There is an inconceivable statistic that more than 75% of South Africans pass away without a valid Will in place. Why is this number so high, you may ask? The results of an independent survey conducted by Primedia Broadcasting this month helped us get to the bottom of it! The survey posed the question of why consumers hadn’t yet got their
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Will in place. The outcome was as follows: · 49% of respondents: “I just haven’t got around to it.” · 15% of respondents: “I’m not sure where to get my Will done.” · 15% of respondents: “I think it might be expensive to get a Will.” · 13% of respondents “I don’t think I need a Will.” · 8% of respondents: “Other.” As you can see, procrastination was the top reason for not having a Will in place, so most consumers questioned understood the need for a Will, but simply hadn’t gotten around to it. “When you consider the impact on your family, your Estate and your legacy when you pass away without a Will in place, you’d think this would be a top priority– and yet we still see only 1 in 4 South Africans passing away with a valid Will in place,” says Brandon Garbutt, MD of Capital Legacy In the survey, participants were also asked whether the Covid-19 Pandemic had made them think more about their Estate Planning and what legacy they would like to leave behind one day? The result was a resounding ‘yes’. “This year has shown that it’s particularly important that we place emphasis on ensuring that we leave a lasting legacy for our children and future generations. In the face of adversity, and as the death toll related to Covid continues to rise, we are reminded that life can be unexpected. We need to prepare accordingly.” notes Alex Simeonides, CEO of Capital Legacy “Is your Will in order?” It’s time to get our communities talking about the subject of Wills and encouraging those in our circles to take action. Getting your Last Will and Testament drafted shouldn’t be a daunting task. This week you can get it done at no cost through participating law firms. At Capital Legacy, we offer Will consultations at no cost, year-round and we’ve made September ‘Wills Month’ to place extra emphasis on this important topic. National Wills Week is the ideal time to get your affairs in order. Don’t read this and put it off for another day. Take an hour of your time and get this important task done and dusted; you’ll have such peace of mind. Don’t procrastinate – get your Will sorted today!
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A Will brings peace in a time of grief
A funeral offers us an opportunity to pay our respects and to remember the person who has passed on. In the end we only have memories and experiences left behind, we remember who they were to us, and we make promises to become the people they wanted us to be. We stand in support of our close and extended family members in hopes of carrying this legacy with us. When the event has passed, we start adjusting our lives, but we keep the memories with us. With the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to ensure your loved ones – whether you’re married, single or in a relationship – feel secure. When your time comes, as it does for all of us on this earth, our funeral will be taken care of because we chose to get cover and offer our family peace of mind. In the same way, having a Will also bring peace of mind to those who will carry our memory with them. Through your Will you can ensure stability for your family and provide the support to your loved ones as they truly deserve from you. This is your legacy, your lasting will and testament. Choosing your beneficiaries, guardians and how to divide your accumulated wealth is tough, but we shouldn’t shy away from talking to the people we want to inherit all that we built up in life. Whether it’s your parents, your children, your spouse, your partner or other relatives, identifying the people who will help carry on your legacy brings order and stability, and this means putting your wishes in writing through a Will. It shouldn’t be, but we understand that financially protecting the people in our lives can be tricky at times. Don’t be afraid to do what you believe to be right and good for those you love. This is the legacy you will leave behind. Having a Will in place will ensure this. If you pass away without a Will, the Intestate Succession Act (“the Act”) comes into play and determines your heirs for you. In terms of the Act, only blood relatives and spouses may inherit from you. So foster children, stepchildren, foster parents, stepparents and possibly your partner most likely will not inherit in terms of the Act. Beyond the drafting of a Will, what is also very important is ensuring that upon your death, your debt is settled. Good debt management means also having money in your estate after you pass away to cover any debt still outstanding at that time. One of the easiest ways to ensure this is through life insurance payable to your estate. Investing in a life policy means that a pay-out could potentially cover your debts and allow your family to be free from any debts that you might otherwise pass on to them. Planning for the future isn’t always easy, but the peace of mind you can get from having a Will in place and having the right conversations with your partner or other family members, with guidance from a Financial Adviser, is priceless.
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US Hospital Gets Permission To Stop Prescribing Ivermectin For Covid
14 September 2021
Wildlife Vets Save Python From Cancer
An Ohio hospital has been given permission to cease the prescription of ivermectin after an August lawsuit forced them to administer the drug.
Ivermectin, a drug traditionally used to treat heartworm in horses and parasitic infections in humans, has become popularised for the treatment of Covid-19 by anti-vaxxers, despite a lack of evidence that it is a viable treatment. On 23 August, Julie Smith successfully sued West Chester Hospital in Ohio forcing it to administer ivermectin to her husband, Jeffrey Smith, 51. He was being treated for Covid-19 in the ICU since July 15. However, an Ohio judge has now overturned this ruling, allowing West Chester Hospital to continue to ban the use of ivermectin, court documents show. The appeal has been overturned on the grounds that Fred Wagshul – a founder of the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCCA), a group that has spread claims of ivermectin’s efficacy – who prescribed the drug to Smith. He did not qualify for practicing privileges at the hospital where Smith is being treated, the court heard. The couple has not have received a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, telling the court that they did not trust it. The appeal – and therefore the cancellation of the use of the drug – came after Mr Smith had been taking ivermectin for two weeks. Julie Smith’s lawyer Ralph Lorigo, chairman of Erie County’s Conservative Party, also sued a number of hospitals to force them to prescribe the drug, including two hospitals in New York
A female Southern African python has been given a new lease on life after surviving surgery to remove her cancer – and the tip of her tail.
and one in Chicago, according to local news outlets Buffalo News and the Chicago Tribune. On 8 September New Mexico’s acting secretary of health, David Scrase, said in a livestreamed Covid-19 update that his state had seen the first known death from covid related ivermectin poisoning, with another patient receiving treatment in intensive care. The news comes as the Australian Government announces it will be banning the use of ivermectin as a Covid-19 treatment after prescriptions for the drug increased three-fold. “Ivermectin is not approved for use in Covid-19 in Australia or in other developed countries, and its use by the general public for Covid-19 is currently strongly discouraged by the National Covid Clinical Evidence Taskforce, the World Health Organisation and the US Food and Drug Administration,” the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s medicine
regulator, wrote in a statement. “The doses of ivermectin that are being advocated for use in unreliable social media posts and other sources for Covid-19 are significantly higher than those approved and found safe for scabies or parasite treatment. “These higher doses can be associated with serious adverse effects, including severe nausea, vomiting, dizziness, neurological effects such as dizziness, seizures, and coma,” the TGA added. Merck, the manufacturer of ivermectin, has also warned against taking the drug. It said, in a statement, that there was “no scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against Covid-19 from pre-clinical studies; no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with Covid-19 disease; and a concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies.”
Kendal Power Station Fire Raises Load Shedding Fears
It is unclear whether South Africans could see a return to load shedding this week following a fire at Eskom’s Kendal Power Station. The cause of a fire at Eskom’s Kendal Power Station in Mpumalanga is till unkown. The power utility said a fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning, damaging several units. It said all staff were evacuated with no injuries reported. Eskom’s Sikonathi Mantshantsha explained, “Upon initial investigation it was determined that the generator transformer had caught fire.
The fire damaged the cables to the main cooling water system on the west side of the station. Unit 2 and 3 experienced loss of vacuum and were shut down under controlled conditions.” A fire at the same power station broke out in February on one of the conveyor belts removing ash from the plant. “We still don’t know the details. Kendal Power Station has been a very troublesome power station for many years now and, in fact, has been subject to a lot of scrutiny as a result of its high emissions,” energy expert Chris Yelland said. He said with half of the Kendal Power Station out of service, this was a loss of about 1,800
megawatts of generation capacity. Eskom is yet to communicate the extent to which the incident will impact the national grid. “The supply and demand situation is going to be very tight. Whether it’s going to be enough to push us over the edge, I don’t know yet, but it certainly depends on how much other generators are out of service at the same time.” The power utility said unit 2 and 3 would return to service during the course of this week. Just last month, an explosion occurred at the Medupi Power Plant due to inadequate purging of hydrogen. That probe also remains under way.
The Johannesburg Wildlife Vet, a non-profit company that treats indigenous animals free of charge with donations, said she won’t miss her tail when she is released back into the wild. The python named Hlengiwe, meaning “rescued” or “helped”, was rescued by snake handler Arthur Roden in August near Marble Hall in southern Limpopo after he received a call from Inzimpala Game Lodge about an injured snake. When Roden arrived, Hlengiwe had slithered into a trench drain on the property. She was dehydrated and very weak and the mass on her tail had created a noticeable deformation. Roden handed Hlengiwe over to veterinarian Dr. Caroline Brits who gave her fluids and pain medication before sending her to the Johannesburg Wildlife Vet. At the specialised facility, Hlengiwe was stabilised and after a few days was able to get a CT to see if the growth was invasive and if it had metastasised. At the specialised facility Hlengiwe was able to get a CT to see if the growth was invasive and if it had metastasised. “Thankfully the scan was clear and the growth well demarcated. In a lengthy surgery we removed the growth with the tip of her tail. A sample was sent for histopathology (a microscopic examination of tissue used to study the manifestations of disease) and the results indicated it was a soft tissue sarcoma, most likely a [fibrosarcoma],” the Wildlife Vet said in a statement on Wednesday. Sarcoma is a cancer of the bones and connective tissue found in animals and humans. It can be brought on by family history or an exposure to chemicals. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa), fibrosarcoma is a malignant fibrous histiocytoma (an unsightly benign skin tumour).Hlengiwe was found dehydrated and very weak and the mass on her tail had created a noticeable deformation. The Wildlife Vet said without treatment, fibrosarcomas will continue to grow and will often become ulcerated and thus prone to infection. “A small percentage metastasise to other parts of the body, most notably the lungs, but we are confident that this is not so in her case, as we were able to resect the whole growth and we are optimistic that it will not recur.” The organisation said the loss of Hlengiwe’s tale would not affect her because the dissection occurred below her cloaca, her digestive, reproductive and urinary tract. “Many of these large pythons lose the tips of their tails throughout their lifetimes.” Hlengiwe coming out of sedation after the operation to remove the tip of her tail. Hlengiwe coming out of sedation after the operation to remove the tip of her tail. Image: Johannesburg Wildlife Vet Now unhindered by her cancer, Hlengiwe has gained weight and “become very feisty”, which the Wildlife Vet said was normal for a healthy python. Once her tail has completely healed, Hlengiwe will be released into a safe and natural environment. The Johannesburg Wildlife Vet takes in all kinds of animals, from lizards and chameleons to jackals and buck. They are also involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of pangolins. Working closely with law enforcement and pangolin groups, they are tasked with trying to keep the highly endangered animals alive. The vets do so at great risk and the pangolins are kept in a secret location to protect them from being poached again.
14 September 2021
Call For Gauteng Parents To Secure Spots For Grade 1s
Parents must secure their children’s Grade 1 school placements as phase two in the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE’s) 2022 online admissions begins today. “We have outdone ourselves this year, not just as the department, but as stakeholders, as parents and as guardians in having made the new twophased approach a success so far. ’’We wish every parent and guardian applying under Phase 2 the very best and we assure them that our team will be there to assist them every step of the way,” Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said yesterday. Phase 2 applications on the 2022 online admissions begin today from 8am and end on October 8. Phase 2 will be for children going into Grade 1 or Grade 8 in the 2022 academic year, but currently not in a public school in Gauteng. “We are also glad to announce that parents and guardians who were not able to apply on time during Phase 1 for learners in Grade 7 at public schools in Gauteng will be able to apply under Phase 2,” GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said yesterday. Parents and guardians applying in Phase 2 have been urged to prepare documentation and ensure that it is all certified and correct. This includes parents and their child’s IDs or passports, refugee permits, asylum-seeker permits, permanent residence permits, study permits, their South African birth certificate, proof of home address, proof of work address, the child’s latest school report and clinic card or immunisation card for Grade 1 only. “We urge parents and guardians to upload these
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This Is How Two Murderers Escaped From Sandton’s Leeuwkop Prison The two prisoners, who escaped from Sandton’s Leeuwkop prison, before robbing a house in Fourways, kidnapping a four-monthold baby, and hijacking a double cab van, escaped by opening a hole in the fence at the prison’s courtyard.
This was revealed by the Department of Correctional Services on Friday, who said the escape of the murder convicted prisoners, Malibongwe Masondo and Luvo Mbali, was “a gross security breach”. The prisoners escaped from Sandton’s Leeuwkop prison and have since been rearrested after they went on a rampage – robbing a house in Fourways, kidnapping a four-monthold baby, and hijacking a double cab vehicle. The prisoners were serving murder sentences of between 10 and 30 years between them. They were re-arrested after they crashed a double cab van they had hijacked, into a ditch in Diepsloot. They had also kidnapped a four-month-old baby, at a Fourways house they robbed. The Diepsloot community, said the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, attacked the prisoners after they crashed the hijacked vehicle into a ditch in the area. The four-month-old baby was taken to Fourways Hospital for treatment. Spokesperson for the Department of Correctional Services Singabakho Nxumalo said they were continuing to investigate the gross security breach. “They escaped from the Correctional Centre’s courtyard by opening a hole in the fence. “Although the two inmates are back in custody, DCS is seriously disturbed by the incident and documents onto the system or submit them at the school(s) they applied to within seven days of applying,” Mabona said. When Phase 1 applications officially closed on September 3, the GDE had recorded a total 351 169 applications. The DA’s Khume Ramulifho urged all parents and guardians to secure their child’s school placement and ensure that they did not miss a day of schooling next year. “This is the most critical level of learning as the child will be starting their first stage of academic life at a primary school and everything must be planned properly so that they enjoy the new
will ensure that the investigation leaves no stone unturned. “The law will take its course in dealing with the two inmates and DCS will be working closely with SAPS, in ensuring that justice prevails for the victims who were tormented by these two, while they were on the loose,” said Nxumalo. He said the convicted criminals would face fresh charges of kidnapping, hijacking, and escaping from lawful custody. Meanwhile, the provincial commissioner of police in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has commended the police, JMPD, private security, and the Diepsloot community, for apprehending the suspects. Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo provided more detail about the prisoners’ house robbery. “Two prisoners, at Leeuwkop Correctional Facility, managed to escape. The duo then broke into a house in Fourways, while the mother, her four-month-old infant, and domestic worker
were at home. “The suspects robbed them of money at knife point, before fleeing the scene on foot with the infant. The suspects proceeded to hijack a white Toyota double cab, near Helderfontein School and drove towards Diepsloot. “JMPD officers on patrol spotted a suspicious Toyota double cab, driving at a high speed, and gave chase. The vehicle subsequently drove into a ditch, at R511 and Plum Street, Diepsloot. “When officers arrived on the scene, the community had already secured the infant and apprehended the two escapees,” said Masondo. Mawela expressed relief that the prisoners had been re-arrested. “A prison escape, by two convicted murderers, serving 10 and 30-year sentences, led to a trail of a house robbery, kidnapping, hijacking, as well as reckless and negligent driving. I am, however, pleased that the perpetrators are now back in prison, where they belong,” said Mawela.
beginnings. “In most cases, failure by parents to apply timeously affects both them and their child as they will be frustrated, and will be unable to budget for school uniforms, stationery and scholar transport, not knowing whether their child has secured a place or not,” Ramulifho said. Ramulifho said parents and guardians had a responsibility to ensure that they protect their children’s right to access to basic education. “The DA will continue to monitor the online admission process from Grade 1 and 8 to ensure that the process is running smoothly for the benefit of the future of our children, and where
there are system glitches, we will inform the department that is tasked with the responsibility to secure school placement for our children,” Ramulifho said.
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14 September 2021
Plans In Motion To Build SA’s Survey Shows Quality Of Life Is Declining In Gauteng First New City Since 1994
Plans are set in motion to build South Africa’s first new city since 1994 according to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille. SMART CITY | SOUTH AFRICA De Lille said that work is underway to develop both a new city and a ‘smart city’ for South Africa. During a session in parliament, de Lille answered questions about this project. It became clear that this project is still in the early planning stages, and several studies will need to be completed before construction starts. “The framework is being developed through an intensive research and consultative process, which will then culminate in a strategic and action plan for a new democratic city in South Africa,” she said. “So far, we have set up the core project team and a reference group, and we have developed the terms of reference for the project. We will further set up a stakeholder, communications and research unit that will look at international best practices.” RESEARCH | MULTIPLE RESOURCES In an article published in 2020, it states that new city projects continue to be announced regularly
and many countries have multiple new city projects underway, including Indonesia (over 10), Kuwait (12), Malaysia (four), Morocco (20), Saudi Arabia (five), Tanzania (over 10), and many more. South Africa will therefore look at other countries and the models used for building new cities and towns, with both local and international scholars tapped to research the project. SA’S NEW CITY | LOCATION De Lille said that an investigation into land ownership will also take place so that a decision can be made on the best place to build this new city, with no official decision made on the location as yet. These processes are set to be completed by April 2022, after which a final report will be presented to the cabinet and the inter-ministerial committee. Following this, a proposal will go out to build this new city in an open and competitive procurement process, de Lille said. LANSERIA | URBAN SUSTAINABILITY De Lille said that this project is separate from the new ‘smart city’ being developed close to the Lanseria airport in Gauteng which will be based on ‘best practice’ in urban sustainability and the smart city’s principles.
South Africa To Participate In Global Children’s Vaccine Trial
South Africa is one of five countries to participate in the global children’s vaccine trial. 2 000 South African children between the ages of six months and 17 years will take part in this trial. The first child in Pretoria will be vaccinated on Friday. Globally, 14 000 children will be enrolled in this trial. The trial is been conducted by a Pretoria company for Chinese vaccine
manufacturer, Sinovac. The children will receive two doses, 28 days apart. SAHPRA and the World Health Organisation have approved the trial. “The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of two doses of CoronaVac against confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 cases in children and adolescents …efficacy will also be evaluated against hospitalisation and severe COVID-19,” Sinovac and Numolux said
The latest survey measuring the quality of life in Gauteng has highlighted how the pandemic reversed a positive anti-poverty trend in the country’s economic hub. The annual survey, now in its sixth year and conducted by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory, was released on Thursday. It detailed the lived experiences of over 13,600 residents between late 2020 and early 2021. Until last year, the quality of life in the province was showing signs of improvement, but the pandemic reversed this progress. Gauteng is South Africa’s smallest province by size but more people live in this wealthiest province than anywhere else in the country. According to the latest quality of life survey, satisfaction with life has diminished and life has become more difficult for many people. “The big factor driving down the overall measured quality of life is government
satisfaction. From 51 all the way down to 40,” said Gauteng City-Region Observatory Research Director Graeme Gotz. Gotz said that there were apparent demographic variations in terms of which groups were most likely to recover from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. “There is deepening inequality, and can we see males with a higher quality of life than females this time around,” Gotz added. Project Manager Julia De Kadt said children had not been spared by the deteriorating quality of life in the province. “Households with children, a full 39% had kept those children away from school, even after the schools reopened. The educational impacts of COVID-19 have gone far beyond formal school closures and have disproportionately impacted the children,” she said. The findings show an overall quality of life index score of 61 out of 100, down from 64
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14 September 2021
‘Give Us An End-Date For All Lockdowns’ – DA Leader, John Steenhuisen
DA leader John Steenhuisen has called on the government to set an end date for the country’s current state of disaster and perpetual lockdown periods. Steenhuisen said in a statement that while the DA welcomed the easing of restrictions, the party called on him “to go further and commit to an end date for all lockdown restrictions as well as the State of Disaster.” “The only possible reason for any further restrictions would be to allow everyone over the age of 18 the chance to get vaccinated. And since the 18-35 year-old group have had access to the vaccine since 20 August, this deadline must now be well within our sight,” Steenhuisen said. “At the very latest, this should happen by midNovember, which would give this age cohort a full 12 weeks to get both jabs. This deadline needs to be announced now so that businesses affected by lockdown restrictions can plan accordingly,” he said. He said the decision could not be made at the last minute as waiting would place more businesses and jobs in jeopardy. “If business owners know that there will be no more restrictions and curfews on 15 November, they can try to make plans to bridge their business over the period until then. If President Ramaphosa does not think this is what needs to happen, he must give his and his government’s reasons why not,” he said. He said citizens had made “extraordinary sacrifices” in order to comply with restrictions and regulations that were seldom explained or justified. “The president needs to take citizens into his
confidence and let them know precisely why these sacrifices must continue. Specifically, he must set out the criteria his cabinet requires to be met for the State of Disaster to be lifted so that everyone can know whether these are rational and fair decisions,” he said. Steenhuisen said he had asked this question on 17 August in a written parliamentary question and he was still waiting for a reply. “That is not good enough, particularly when government’s decisions around lockdowns and economic restrictions already have so little credibility. It is also not good enough for the president to say “as soon as everyone has been vaccinated” when speaking of our return to normality, as we will never get to a point where everyone has had the jab,” he said. Steenhuisen added that it was “crucial” to start applying a regional model for the restrictions, based on the healthcare capacity of the region. “Infection trends and vaccination rates differ greatly across different parts of the country and there is no single, neat wave that applies to the entire country, or even entire provinces,” Steenhuisen said. “Some areas have sufficient hospital capacity to no longer warrant restrictions. It is extremely selfish to subject South Africans to more unnecessary economic hardship when the local conditions do not justify this. Citizens cannot be held to ransom by the whims of a group of people obsessed with central command and control of the economy – people who have never run a business themselves, never created a single job and whose own jobs and salaries are never at stake no matter how badly they get their Covid response wrong,” he said.
Mom’s Nightmare Morning Ends Happily A Cape Town mother’s nightmare morning ended happily after her car was hijacked in Observatory with her 7-month-old baby boy still inside. Police said that they are investigating the circumstances around the hijacking which took place Bishop Street Observatory at around 10.30am. SAPS spokesperson Andrè Traut said that the suspect fled with the victim’s VW Polo with her baby inside. “The immediate response by the members of the Flying Squad and the K9 Unit resulted in the vehicle being recovered in Voortrekker Road, Maitland. Further investigation on the scene led the members to an address in Dellville Square in Maitland where the baby was found unharmed,”
Traut said. “A possible suspect has been identified, however a formal arrest is yet to be made.” In an interview with CapeTalk the mother, Alicia Lamprecht, said that she was “very emotional but doing okay” after they had found her son, Henco, in Maitland. She commended the work done by Woodstock police in helping track him down. She said she was busy talking to a friend when her car was hijacked “not even two metres away” from her. “I tracked my car to Mowbray, and we found the car but not the baby. Then the car tracker and the police came out and they started helping us to try to find him,” Alicia said. “I’m not sure who found him. I’m just glad to hold my baby.”
969 Arrested In Three-Day Police Blitz Across Gauteng
Roadblocks, stop and search operations, raids and inspections over three days in Gauteng resulted in the arrest of 969 people and the seizure of suspected stolen goods, liquor and firearms. Multidisciplinary operations including police, traffic officials, private security, home affairs and the Gauteng liquor board were held in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand last week from Wednesday to Friday. “Of the arrested suspects, 200 were caught for gender-based violence (GBV) and femiciderelated offences, while 14 were charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and 80 are undocumented immigrants,” said police spokesperson Brig Brenda Muridili.
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“The others were charged with crimes including possession of unlicensed firearms, assault GBH and dealing in drugs. “Liquor compliance resulted in the closing of 45 liquor outlets operating without a licence and two liquor outlet owners were charged for non-compliance with the Disaster Management Act regulations for trading after stipulated hours. “Other seizures included 13,040g of dagga, 37 mandrax tablets, crystal meth, 42 sachets of nyaope, two unlicensed firearms and more than R13,000 in cash.” Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela said: “The successes obtained from this operation alone are indicative of the commitment that law enforcement agencies, the community, civil society and private stakeholders have in reducing the levels of crime Gauteng.”
14 September 2021
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Wallabies defeat Springboks down under Since readmission in 1992, the Boks have won just five times in Australia, but on this occasion at the Gold Coast Stadium they were widely expected to confirm their world champion status by sweeping aside a very average Wallabies team that had been obliterated in three matches in a row by the All Blacks.
In the “curtain-raiser” to this match, the selfsame Kiwis blew Argentina away as they build up steam to the big 100th anniversary match with the Boks on September 25, and after the Boks failed to ignite in their 28-26 loss to the Wallabies, the gulf in class between the All Blacks and the Boks is clearly apparent. It was an endlessly frustrating match for South African observers because the Springboks were their own worst enemies. Instead of taking a step up from their series win over the Lions and their two solid victories over the Pumas, the Boks lurched backwards, making a mountain of uncharacteristic errors on defence while usually dependable playmakers such as Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am were curiously off colour. And while Pollard was missing kicks at goal, it was a fairytale day for his opposite number,
Quade Cooper, who was recalled out of obscurity to deliver a faultless kicking display which included a magnificent post-hooter effort to win the game.
That he was in that position to kick his team to glory summed up what was wrong with a Bok team that kept on conceding soft moments. Seconds earlier, all the Boks had to do was win the ball from their set scrum and then kick it into touch to win the game 26-25 but they conspired to make a hash of it —despite having had a run of dominant scrums — and when the scrum broke up, the penalty went the way of the Wallabies. Cue Cooper to step up and kick his seventh penalty of the night... The reaction of coach Jacques Nienaber as the referee’s arm went up for the penalty said it all. He threw his arms up and mouthed an expletive of note in frustration and who could blame him? Champion teams close out games like this but the Boks could not put away a Wallabies team that was as courageous as it was niggly and obstructive off the ball. “Nothing has changed in our preparation. This game is important to us.”
The Boks scored three tries to one, all of them off the back of lineout mauls following penalty kicks to the corner, but while they were clinical in this respect, you have to wonder why they didn’t make better use of their backline on occasions when the Aussies kicked the ball deep and space and time begged for a counter-attack. We understand that the Boks have their unique way of playing but they can’t remain one trick ponies forever, scoring tries only from lineout mauls, especially not when they have trymachines on the wings. An aspect of this game that will hurt the Boks was their unusually porous defence. They missed 21 tackles and the Wallabies’ lone try was due to a simple missed tackle in the outside channel by Faf de Klerk on Samu Kerevi that allowed the centre to create a simple run in for wing Andrew Kellaway. The Boks have return match against the Wallabies on Saturday at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, a venue where they have an appalling record, and that will continue unless they can pull themselves together and play like the champions so many South Africans have cracked them up to be.
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YOUR Sundowns defence didn’t give Kaizer Chiefs a chance NEWS VIEWS Champions Mamelodi Sundowns showed they will remain the team to beat in this season’s DStv Premiership following a comfortable 2-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versveld.
The Brazilians may have endured a week where the harmony in the camp, and particularly the relationship of their three coaches were placed under scrutiny, but they remain a potent outfit when the serious business on the field gets underway. Chiefs may have opened up their cheque book and splurged on a whole new group of players, including former Sundowns talisman Keagan Dolley in a bid to unseat the four-times
successive champions, but it will take more than just money to get the better of the Brazilians. The much-anticipated contest began in almost identical fashion to when these two giants of South African football met previously in the MTN8 quarter-final a month ago. Lyle Lakay’s cultured left-foot was once again the provider, with the former Capetonian delivering another inch-perfect free-kick to the far post. Only this time it was not Peter Shalulile that out-jumped the Kaizer Chiefs defence but rather new man Grant Kekana. Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter would no doubt have been furious in regards to how easily Kekana found space and then won the aerial battle to
head the ball past Bruce Bvuma, especially the visitors had just a moments earlier missed a chance of their own when Keagan Dolly rifled his volley just over the bar with his weaker right foot. Dolly, the former Sundowns talisman, was certainly intent though to leave his imprint on the contest, with the now Chiefs No 10 at the heart of every Amakhosi forward foray. He created another opportunity when picking up a pass from Cole Alexander drove at the Sundowns box before unleashing a powerful left-footed drive that shaved the outside of a full-stretched Denis Onyango’s left post. That’s exactly what transpired with ace marksman Peter Shalulile delivering the
knockout punch shortly after the hour mark. The Namibian had a half-chance in the opening 45 minutes when his header from an Andile Jali cross was pushed wide, but he made no mistake with a tap-in from close range on the hour mark. Chiefs’ misery on the night was compounded when substitute Lebogang Manyama struck a tame penalty in the 85th minute that left the visitors with plenty of questions to ponder over and lots to work on for the remainder of the season if they are to pose a serious title challenge.n “We knew they wanted to play on the counter. It was always going to be very tough, but we did our analysis.
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