Table of contents for 2021-07-14 in Post

Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi THE Health Department of South Africa announced last week that pregnant and breastfeeding women are now eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination. This is good news for all new mothers as the government’s vaccine programme had initially excluded pregnant and breastfeeding women due to a lack of data from the initial Covid-19 vaccine trials. The announcement comes as a re-evaluation of the country’s vaccine strategy, with the number spiking in many provinces and the Delta variant spreading rapidly. The department’s chief director, Lesley Bamford, said: “The current recommendations are that Covid-19 vaccines, including the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, should be offered to all pregnant and breastfeeding women who are eligible to be vaccinated and who have completed 14 weeks of gestation.” Lisanne du Plessis, associate professor at…

Latoya Newman latoya.newman@inl.co.za EVEN the private security sector is feeling the pressure of recent riots across the country. In a statement on Monday night, Wahl Bartmann, CEO of the Fidelity Services Group, said from the chaos in KZN they had seen a lot of rioting on the roads, fires, extensive property damage and looting. Bartmann said in the interests of protecting their people and safeguarding assets, Fidelity has for the moment recalled its Cash in Transit vans in these affected areas until the situation stabilised. He said during the weekend Fidelity set up a national Joint Operations Centre (JOC) to monitor the situation so it could deploy air support and specialised ground patrols as quickly as possible. “The situation is however extremely fluid and we are monitoring activity closely…

THE N3 and N2 routes through KwaZulu-Natal have been targeted by groups allegedly protesting against the recent events relating to the previous president and his imprisonment. The protests, as they are now termed, have hit the routes and the ire of the groups has been focused on trucks passing along these routes. So far – according to reports – more than 30 trucks have been destroyed (either wholly burnt out or very badly damaged), while sections of the N3 near Mooi River are still being cleared up in an attempt to get some traffic flowing. Why is trucking being targeted? Why should those who have nothing to do with either aggrieved party and who are just trying to ply their business (whether as owners or employees), be subjected to such…

THE Law Society of South Africa THE Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) expresses its concerns about the current violence in our country and calls for calm and restraint. As a constitutional democracy, South Africa recognises and protects the right for citizens to protest. The LSSA fully supports the right of people to protest within the confines of our law. The loss and destruction of infrastructure and property mainly affect the workers and the poor, and the losses will not be easily nor quickly be rectified. The legitimate protests of people must be respected. However, they must be in the confines of the law. The destruction and looting of businesses and ransacking of liquor outlets also indicate opportunists hiding behind the fears and anxieties of the people protesting and…

One South Africa THE One South Africa movement is disturbed by the widescale public looting and violence that has ensued in towns and cities across South Africa under the “shut down SA” banner. This is a serious threat that we dare not sugar-coat. We can’t afford to decline into lawlessness and violence, or to be divided on lines of race or tribe. This will take us nowhere and simply inflame more violence and division. ANC factionalism and ethno-nationalism are at the heart of this crisis. The ANC is fighting it out and the people are suffering. We the public must call out all leaders of the ANC for bringing us to this point. In truth, it is the devastating socio-economic conditions in poor communities that allow politicians to exploit the…

HOW many ordinary South Africans are aware of the gravity and magnitude of former president Jacob Zuma's alleged involvement in state capture and corruption? A multitude of witnesses implicated him in the shenanigans of the Guptas and their cronies. During the Zupta era, Zuma, as the then South African commander-in-chief, was able to remove or relocate ministers and other key personnel in state institutions allegedly directed by the Guptas. The Guptas became so powerful that ministers were advised by them of their new portfolios even before being told by the president himself. The main target of the looters were the state-owned entities such as Eskom, Transnet, Prasa and SAA. It will take some time for these entities to recover from the ravages of state capture. How many remember Eskom’s TV…

THIS letter is not directed at anybody specifically but to that person who dismisses what is happening right now. That is the looting and burning of private property as sheer criminality. There is a fear that once those who are looting stores are done, they will come for us, law-abiding citizens who built our homes and gathered our assets through the sheer sweat off our brows. If that happens, I will face it and defend myself, my property and my family. I fought apartheid and survived it. This too shall pass. I am appalled and, frankly, terrified as I follow the visuals on television of the carnage and destruction of property. Burn the system. And the rage associated with all of this. We know so much about rage but do…

Duff is a psychic medium, Sharron Duff ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Take time out to have some fun and try to see the lighter side of life. It’s important to have rest and time to rejuvenate. Practise an attitude of gratitude and focus on balancing your time better. Lucky colour: lime green. TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) A challenge has come to an end and there is a new beginning or opportunity opening up to you. But you also have to put in the work involved. You may need to put your trust in an unlikely ally. Lucky colour: cerise. GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Family connections are important this week as are connections with old friends. Someone from the past may appear to…

THERE are many stories that need to be told about the days and nights of July 2021, when anarchy was let loose in parts of South Africa. But what stands out is the courage of ordinary people who stood side by side with their neighbours against a mob of looters. Most were ill-equipped and untrained in self-defence. They were of different ages, different religions and even different races. But they were prepared to put their lives on the line to protect their loved ones and their property. When President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday night, he had an opportunity to announce decisive action. He didn’t, leaving it to God to “protect her people”. And so, citizens were left to the mercy of criminals. The law enforcement agencies were…

The South African Insurance Association THE South African Insurance Association (SAIA) has observed with concern the looting of businesses, damage to property and infrastructure, and the barricading of roads and damage to vehicles due to the civil unrest currently sweeping across the country’s provinces. The SAIA condemns the acts of criminality and vandalism and calls for caution and calm. The organisation welcomed the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa during Sunday’s address, which made it clear that the government does not, and will not condone any acts of vandalism and criminality, and perpetrators will be brought to book. South Africa is faced with a possibility that these protests may linger on for some time. Therefore, we would like to urge businesses, motorists and the public to exercise caution and prioritise safety…

LAWYERS are hired guns. We know that. The nature of their jobs often results in them receiving bad press. Some of them are seen as tough, rude, aggressive, unprincipled, immoral and sly. They will argue that it’s their job to do the best they can for their clients and if it means being hated by all and sundry, so be it. However, contrary to this popular perception, every once in a while they have an outbreak of conscience because the case they are either defending or prosecuting speaks to their sense of morality. I think back to the prosecutors in the George Floyd trial. My understanding is that they were paid a nominal fee or nothing at all. They prosecuted this case because it was about what was fundamentally wrong…

THEY thought that by locking up Jacob Zuma, it would be the end of him. They got it wrong. They never foresaw that even if he was behind bars, he would still wield power and influence. See what his loyal supporters are doing to get him out of jail. They are mobilising all over the province and into Gauteng creating havoc. Zuma supporters created mayhem. They looted and vandalised private property. They also blocked off roads, stoned motorists and torched several vehicles. Millions of rand went up in smoke. What mindless destruction. It is obvious the police were caught off-guard. Instead of imposing their authority in Nkandla, they let Zuma protesters gather in numbers in open defiance of the lockdown regulations. We are paying a heavy price for poor, ineffective…

A letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Bheki Cele, the Minister of Police I AM ashamed of being South African. I am truly ashamed of being a South African citizen. I was almost a victim of the 1985 riots in Durban, in which countrymen rose against countrymen and today I see my beloved country being devoured by acts of absolute barbarism and despicable acts of anarchism. I cannot believe that South Africa had it in her to nurture citizens who could behave in a manner which we are witnessing. Mr President, you addressed the nation on Sunday night on the extended lockdown, but your country was burning, and all you could muster to tell the nation as the commander-in-chief of our armed forces was that people would be arrested if…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za IN his youth, Mohamed Ally shone for the Natal High Schools Athletics team in the South African Schools Sports Association (Sassa) Championships from 1989 to 1992. He finished in the top three in the 100m for three consecutive years. The highlight of Ally’s athletics participation was in 1991 when he won the boys U-17 100m final at the Sassa Championships at the De Jager Stadium in Oudtshoorn. In that race, he broke the boys U-17 Sassa and Natal High Schools records by lowering the previously held record time of 10.74 seconds to 10.56 seconds. “I grew up in a household that was sports crazy, especially about football and boxing. My late Dad Jabir and I often woke up at 3am to catch some international fights during the…

LIONEL Messi said that he hoped Argentina’s Copa America triumph would help provide strength to his compatriots in their battle to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic. The message, posted on social media, came less than a day after the Albiceleste beat Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium, ending Argentina’s 28-year wait for a major trophy. “It was an incredible Copa America. We know that we can still improve a lot of things, but the truth is that the guys gave it everything and I can’t be more proud to have the luck of being captain of this spectacular group,” Messi said in the post. “I want to dedicate this success to my family, who always gave me the strength to move forward, to my…

Economic Freedom Fighters THE EFF has observed the complete incompetence and uselessness of Matamela Ramaphosa in handling the Covid-19 pandemic and the widespread uprisings that have resulted in violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Matamela has exhibited his weakness in that he has been unable to handle protests that stem from factional warfare within his own political party, and have now turned into rolling mass actions by thousands of poor South Africans. At no single moment has he attempted to engage the masses of people he purports to lead within his own political party and the people he claims to be a president of. Instead, he continues with his dictatorial tendencies, of adjusting when South Africans can sleep, suppressing political dissent and running the country behind a television screen.…

Active Citizens Movement THE Active Citizens Movement (ACM) welcomes any reinforcement of security personnel in order to protect citizens and bring the looting, burning and violence to an end. The safety and security of our communities are paramount, and we cannot allow the lawlessness to destroy our country. We appeal to law enforcement agents to arrest the culprits, especially the ringleaders, many of whom have publicly called for a defiance of the law. The ACM calls on the SAPS and all police services to be far more proactive in their policing efforts, ranging from intelligence gathering to being more decisive at sites of looting and criminality. Citizens are deeply dismayed to see police personnel at malls and shopping centres behaving like mere bystanders. There are resources in the form…

WITH reference to the Editor’s View “Zuma has become KZN’s latest warlord” (the POST, July 7-11). I think we have seen enough violence in our country to last us a lifetime of bloodshed, hatred and pain. We cannot label Jacob Zuma a warlord and compare him with Sifiso Nkabinde. First, Zuma remains a loyal member of the ANC and he acted within the confines of the law. He is a father and would have never allowed his children at Nkandla to be harmed or to engage with the police as some anticipated. Zuma is no barbarian as made out to be. He is a gentleman and a father figure to many. Zuma never promoted acts of violence, not once. He fought for my freedom and he was jailed. The former…

WITH reference to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s statement about the violence in KwaZulu-Natal. Buthelezi is unmatched. As a human being he is almost perfect. He is honest and trustworthy. I have known him for almost 50 years and I have noticed how consistently he showed tremendous respect for all people – irrespective of their race or status. He is the architect of social cohesion. Unfortunately, not all leaders have sincerely supported his vision. Buthelezi outlined historical events which should have served as a yardstick not to react from the heart but to use the head. Didn’t they learn lessons from what happened when some of the great leaders of this country were ill-treated by the rulers of that time? King Cetshwayo was arrested and exiled. King Dinuzulu was found guilty of…

RESIDENTS in KwaMashu have mixed emotions about the rioting and looting in the province. Mandla Masuku, 29, who has been unemployed for almost two years, said: “I’m very sad about what is happening and I think many people will go hungry after this. Many of us in this area are unemployed or don’t have a stable source of income. But what is going on is still an act of criminality." He said some members of government had looted state funds but had not been arrested. "So what is now happening on the ground is also what is happening on a provincial and national level.” Nontsikelelo Minani, 23, a teacher, said looting was a sign of people’s desperation. “When these protests started, they seemed like a peaceful protest of people voicing…

eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za LIONEL Messi won his first major international medal with Argentina last weekend when they beat arch-rivals Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final where Angel Di Maria scored the only goal of the game. Italy also defied the odds in the Euro 2020 final, beating England 3-2 on penalties. The victory for the Italians marked their first European Championship since 1968. For England, their trophy drought since winning the 1966 World Cup continues. Gareth Southgate’s charges can take heart from the fact that their squad in the recently concluded Euros showed improvement from the one which reached the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup. The Three Lions will now be hoping to win the World Cup in Qatar next year. With the two tournaments over, focus will…