Table of contents for Wednesday, July 1, 2020 in Post

Fear as pandemic grips city GPs receive more calls from worried residents POST REPORTERS AS THE world this week marks six months since the first cases of Covid-19 were reported in Wuhan, China, family practitioners in eThekwini warn that the virus is spreading through the city. The community-based doctors confirmed that an increasing number of patients were showing symptoms and testing positive. With the rate of infections expected to peak in the coming weeks, they have urged residents to wear masks, ensure social distancing and sanitise. In particular, they want people to stop attending gatherings of any kind. Globally, more than 10 million people have been infected and over half a million have died. In South Africa, the Western Cape has the most infections although numbers are rising fast in…

A year without piped water NADIA KHAN SIBONELO NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA) FOR a year, residents of the Inanda Tea Estate have had no piped water. Despite water tankers bringing in a supply, it has become physically taxing for the elderly to collect and carry the heavy buckets. Marriamah Govender, 73, and her husband, Koopmoonsamy, 78, have been living in the Tea Estate, for 43 years. They own a farm and grow vegetables, including brinjals and chillies, which are sold at fresh-produce markets during the week. While they are earning an income, they often miss the water tankers as these do not follow a delivery schedule. “When this happens, we have to pray they come on a day that we are home. In the interim, we have to ration…

Siblings go to court to settle dispute over will CHARLENE SOMDUTH THREE sisters have brought an application in the Durban High Court to prevent their brother from winding up their late parents’ estate. Romona Govindasamy, Emerly Reddy, and Rose Ann Pillay are accusing their brother, Ronald Govindasamy, of changing their mother’s will to allegedly swindle them out of their inheritance. In his responding papers filed last week, Ronald has denied the allegations. Their mother, Yellammah Govindasamy, died in December 2015. She left her home in Palmview, Phoenix, valued at R850 000, two vehicles and mechanical tools. The mother was diagnosed with kidney failure and suffered a stroke. According to the sisters, this resulted in her losing complete use of her right hand and right leg. She had to be assisted…

Push for return ‘unorthodox’ NADIA KHAN THERE were mixed emotions among parents after it was announced that additional grades were expected to be phased in at schools on Monday. On June 8, grades 7 and 12 pupils returned to school. Last Wednesday Angie Motshekga, the Minister of Basic Education, said grades R, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 11, would also go back on July 6. Grades 4, 5, 8 and 9 were expected to return on August 3. While the minister said all schools would have isolation rooms if someone presented with Covid-19 symptoms, and no school would open until it met the minimum Covid-19 standards, parents and teacher unions remained concerned. Natasha Naidoo, of Phoenix, said she would not send her Grade 10 daughter and Grade 5 son…

Going back, or staying home: mothers speak JANINE MOODLEY JENNIFER Veerasamy, 28, an administration clerk who lives in an outbuilding in Tongaat, has no option but to place her child in a day-care facility. She has already made plans at a local crèche to look after her 3-year-old daughter as soon as it reopens. Veerasamy, a single parent with no family support, said she was able to work from home during the lockdown but was expected to return to the office in July. “My parents are dead and I have no relationship with my daughter’s father. “We only have each other. I don’t trust anyone to keep her, not with the way the world is at the moment.” She said the research by Professor Servaas van der Berg and Dr…

EDITOR’S VIEW Imperative to safeguard for what’s ahead SIX months ago, the World Health Organization received the first reports of a cluster of pneumonia cases of an unknown cause in China. Today, we know the cause as a virus labelled Sars-CoV2, or Covid-19. From a few initial cases, 10 million people worldwide have now been infected and half a million have died. In South Africa, numbers are rising with infection rates expected to peak during July and August. As the world marked six months since the virus was reported, the director-general of the World Health Organization warned the pandemic was “not even close to being over”. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said while many countries had made some progress, worldwide the pandemic was actually speeding up. “We’re all in this together,…

End the violence against women GENDER-based violence is directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence of a particular gender disproportionately. The contributing factors that lead to gender-based violence are factors that interact with a number of drivers such as social norms, which may be cultural or religious, low levels of women empowerment, a lack of social support, socio-economic inequality and substance abuse. The forms of gender-based violence comprise not only rape but sexual abuse, forced early marriage, domestic violence, marital rape, trafficking and female genital mutilation. The domestic violence that is caused in South Africa is physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and psychological abuse, economic abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking and damage to property. Violence against women is a serious problem in South Africa. Horrific stories of…

A relentless predator is stalking us THE Covid-19 pandemic in our country will reach its peak within four to six weeks. As it weaves through the entire country’s landmass, it will harvest and gather victims. The critical factor in this deadly equation is the defiance by the majority of citizens by ignoring cardinal safety rules and regulations. The majority are of the opinion that a relaxation of the lockdown regulations indicate that the virus is receding. The reality is that infections will multiply as the economy is opened for business in stages. Saving lives and saving the economy from collapsing is a delicate strategy to save our country from sliding into an abyss. By ignoring policy and safety guidelines, we will witness death on a frightening scale. Should we continue…

Desperate congregants taken advantage of by ‘criminals’ THE article “Chatsworth pastor reported to SAHRC” (the POST, June 17 – 21) refers. Those who practice any religion should reflect on how religion has been used and misused over the years. Too many desperate congregants have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous criminals disguised as men and women of God. Many of these congregants are poor and believe the church is the last salvation. They will do anything their pastors and bishops or spiritual healers tell them to do. A number of them had to drink petrol or eat snakes, were sprayed with an insect killer, and have allowed cars to be driven over their bodies, all in the name of the Lord. As if the manipulation is not enough, many more…

Paying for municipal laxness I RECEIVED my utility bill for June, which was R24 000. This amount was, of course, not normal. Just for clarity, all my bills have been paid timeously every month. I visited the municipal office in Pinetown to make enquiries in the electricity section. I was told that from 2018 to this year, there was always an estimated amount being paid and now that a meter reading was at last taken sometime last month, this resulted in the difference. I owe the difference between the shortfall and the actual amount due. It was shocking to hear that the gentleman assisting me said the reason was that from 2018 to this year, the meter reader reported that my property was not accessible. But I was never notified…

Help your children face their fears THE Covid-19 pandemic has presented everyone with unchartered territory to navigate. For parents, this is fraught with uncertainty and worry. Home schooling, adapting to online learning and caring for the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of children in the lockdown are sources of strain. Then came the reopening of schools with different grades returning in phases. Some children are back at school, others are waiting to go back and some won’t be returning. Whether you have decided to send your child back to school or you have chosen to continue home schooling for the remainder of the year, it is stressful for you and your child. There is no clear answer to what exactly is the right thing to do. Parents are under a…

Stokes ready to captain England PAUL NEWMAN IT was not too long ago the idea of handing Ben Stokes, pictured, the Test captaincy would have been anathema to an England hierarchy wary both of disciplinary issues and his huge workload as their all-action all-rounder. Now it is an absolute no-brainer. Stokes, the man who pulled off two cricketing miracles last year, looked and sounded every inch an England captain yesterday as he contemplated beginning the belated season by taking on perhaps the biggest challenge yet in his extraordinary career. It now seems certain Joe Root will miss next week’s first Test against West Indies at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl because of the complications of his enforced isolation period over the imminent birth of his second child. That means Stokes, so desperate…

At 101, Rukmin celebrates life… and veggies CHANELLE LUTCHMAN Supplied AT 101, RUKMIN Singh enjoys walking around her house, sitting in the sun and talking to her daughter, Romila. The Northdale, Pietermaritzburg, resident celebrated her birthday on Saturday with Romila and her family. Because of the lockdown, her three other children and their families could not attend the party. Romila said that although her mother was saddened she could not spend the day with everyone, she understood the reason behind it. Singh, a first-generation South African, has 27 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, Her father, Suraj, an indentured labourer, arrived at the Port of Natal from India on March 27, 1902. He met her mother, Sujee, after his arrival and they got married. They had five children. Singh was…

Let’s rise together in spirit of ubuntu: finalist Miss SA hopeful on trying again, current events THANDEKA MGQIBI Facebook and Supplied MEDICAL doctor Karishma Ramdev was selected as a Top 15 finalist in Miss South Africa 2020 – her second attempt at the crown. Ramdev, 25, who was raised in Chatsworth, Durban, lives in Joburg. She works at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. She shared her views on current local and global issues with the POST. Q: In 2018, you made the Miss SA Top 5. Why have you decided to try again? A: My father always told me as a child “it is better to try and fail than fail to try”, and I have lived by those words for most of my life. It has always been…

Man dies in N2 collision with truck CHARLENE SOMDUTH A SEA Cow Lake father was killed in a crash on the N2 on Friday. Rishaal Singh, 43, who worked at the mechanical department at the eThekwini Municipality, died at the Netcare uMhlanga Hospital on Saturday morning. He sustained multiple injuries. Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa said according to witnesses the driver of a truck and trailer allegedly lost control and crossed over the centre median on the N2. He said the truck collided with the Hyundai i20 that Singh was driving. The vehicle then crashed into a white Toyota Yaris. “Four people were injured. Two people in the Toyota Yaris, one in the Hyundai i20 and the truck driver. They were taken to hospital. We thereafter found out…

Researchers say schools must reopen JANINE MOODLEY TWO academics from Stellenbosch University (SU) have said there is no justification to keep children out of school and crèche. Professor Servaas van der Berg and Dr Nic Spaull, of the university’s Department of Economics, released the research paper “Counting the Cost: Covid-19 school closures in South Africa and its impact on children.” They said the risk of keeping children away from school, including crèche and other Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities, far exceeded the risk of their return. The academics looked at the health risk of Covid-19 as well as the socio-economic repercussions of closing educational facilities. Their research found that children are more at risk of dying from acute malnutrition, pneumonia, diarrhoea and HIV/Aids than from Covid-19. “Although initially there was…

Welfare homes create school environment Staff, older children take over curriculum to help pupils with their lessons CHANELLE LUTCHMAN CHANELLE LUTCHMAN SIBONELO NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA) SINCE the lockdown, children who reside in welfare facilities can no longer spend the weekends with their families or guardians to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Those who oversee the homes say they have – and are – doing everything to keep the children safe, occupied and doing their school work. The grades 7 and 12 pupils have already returned to school. Grades R, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 11 will return on July 6 and grades, 4, 5, 8 and 9 are expected back on August 3. Althea Govender, the director of St Monica’s Children’s Home on the Bluff, Durban,…

Despicable atrocities at your door An open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa Sir You have expressed outrage at the surge of femicide that has rocked our country. Who are you actually talking to? Do you really believe that as president your message is getting across or is being heeded by those that it is intended for? If you do, then you are sadly mistaken, grossly misinformed, or desperately short of the reality. Not a single president – not even the iconic Nelson Mandela – was able to stem the burgeoning criminality that has plagued this country since the advent of democracy. It is futile putting on a beaming smile, an affable aspect and exuding diplomacy, assuming that such characteristics will endear you to a country that is literally dying. It…

Let’s protect one another AS WE head towards the predicted peak of the coronavirus, there are some areas that need to be tightened in order to minimise the catastrophic effect. It has been found that supermarkets are bad spots. They have taken so many precautions but here is a request for one more. Before customers reach the till points, they should queue in one direction and not snake around. This will prevent face-to-face interaction. In addition to this, the designated floor managers need to ensure all customers wear their masks properly and adhere to safe distances. A lot of customers are childishly treating the safety measures as a joke, placing others at unnecessary risk. It has also been found that the initial empathy from everybody is gradually disappearing. Some people…

Soccer’s unsung hero THE Isipingo soccer fraternity and community were saddened after a giant of football in the suburb, PP “Michael” Chetty, died recently after a long illness at the age of 80. He was a former player and administrator at the Prospecton Football Club, Prospecton Darts Club, the match secretary and records clerk at Isipingo & District Football Association and the vice-president of the South Coast Darts Association. After he retired, he became an honorary life vice-president (life member). Many people could not attend his funeral because of the Covid-19 regulations. In 1974, when the football association was evicted from the Umbogintwini grounds, Michael kept soccer in Isipingo alive when he secured the use of a ground in Merewent. He was an unsung hero, who selflessly contributed to the…

Metro police far too relaxed on illegal drag racing WITH regard to the story “Brakes on illegal drag racing” (the POST, June 24 – 28). It is sad that metro police are relaxed on this topic. Its spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad, said they were working on an undercover sting operation. Mr Sewpersad, you can fool some of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all the people all the time. You, Mr Sewpersad, and metro police must stop blowing hot air and bring drag racing to a halt. It is your department’s responsibility to end this dangerous form of sport. Yes, I agree with those interviewed about endangering others and property. This is a long, drawn-out topic every year and metro police get better with their…

BOOST YOUR RESILIENCE IF YOU are feeling strained and need help, Suntosh Pillay provides safe, self-help tips. • Exercise regularly. • Eat healthily. • Stay in touch with loved ones. • Have a daily routine. • Start hobbies. • Be creative (arts, crafts, sewing and gardening). • Limit negative news and social media • Volunteer your time or skills to needy organisations. Sadag is providing support services via the following platforms: • Online toolkit on www.sadag.org providing articles, coping tips, podcasts, videos and so on. • SMS 31393 and a counsellor will call back (available 24 hours a day). • Helplines providing free telephonic counselling at 0800 21 22 23, 0800 70 80 90, 0800 456 789 (24 hours a day), 0800 12 13 14 (24 hours) and the Suicide Crisis…

Your Stars Aries (March 21 – April 19) You have an abundance of energy this week waiting to burst out and loads of ideas for business or life changes. Make sure you don’t overdo things as you tend to become involved in new ideas and forget about things around you. Remain focused at all times and things will go in your favour. Lucky number: 11. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) It’s all about your emotions this week and wanting to run away from your problems. This is not always the right decision. Sometimes we have to face the past and finally let go of things that hold us back. It’s important to have family around you this week as they are your strength. Lucky number: 1. Gemini (May 21…

getting HOOKED THE sardines have been keeping those looking for big sharks busy and the freshwater venues are slowly opening up. The post-lockdown fishing has been good for the offshore sector. The couta and wahoo have been the main targets but many species have been boated over the past few weeks. The shoals of sardines have started to come round the Bluff and the accompanying gamefish and sharks have come with them. Witnessing the mayhem around a pocket of sards is something you don’t forget very soon. You can either throw a spoon or popper around the action, troll your lipped lures around or jig and drop a live sardine from the shoal. The central zone has been a bit quiet over the past week with most of the focus…

‘It was like being the first man on Mars’ MIKE DICKSON BORIS Becker, pictured, ponders for a second what it was like to win Wimbledon aged 17, and then conjures up an image: “It was like being the first man on Mars.” Thirty-five years have passed since the ginger-haired teenager nicknamed ‘Boom Boom’ was blasted into space on a mission fraught with excitement and danger. The age of the tennis wunderkind was launched. “There was no story board for it,” recalls Becker, sitting beside the rooftop court at the Thames-side apartment block which has been his home through the lockdown. “What happened has informed the rest of my life. I don’t think anyone could really understand what it was like.” Unseeded and largely unheralded, he scythed through a series of…

Ratepayers commended for paying municipal bills CHANELLE LUTCHMAN KRISH Kumar, the deputy city manager, finance cluster, has commended eThekweni residents for keeping their commitment and paying their rates. During a monthly meeting to discuss the city’s Covid-19 financial health, it was revealed that the May collection rate improved to 85%. Kumar told the POST this week that the city was happy to see that residents were still paying their bills even in the challenging times of Covid-19. “In March we received 95% of the rates, but it dropped to 56% in April because under level 5 of the lockdown people were not allowed to leave their homes, so people couldn’t go out and pay their bills. “But our collection picked up in May to 85%. Today alone I was told…

GET PRESENT TO KNOW , HOPES RAMDEV AND : DREAMS HER PAST, THANDEKA MGQIBI KARISHMA Ramdev was born and raised in Chatsworth. Her dad, Karun, is an optometrist and her mother, Komla, a radiographer. She has two brothers – Aveshan, 29, who was born with trisomy 18q+ (a rare chromosomal disorder associated with abnormalities in parts of the body), and Sashin, 22, who is studying veterinary science. Ramdev, 25, obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees (MBChB) from the University of Pretoria last year. She is completing her internship at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Due to her busy work schedule, Ramdev said she usually got home exhausted. In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing on her couch, watching Netflix. “I also enjoy keeping healthy with some…

Vigilantism will not be tolerated: police CHARLENE SOMDUTH RESIDENTS are going rogue against criminals – arming themselves with baseball bats, knobkerries, knives and guns to safeguard their homes. They are not prepared to sit back and become statistics of crime and are fighting back through vigilantism and mob justice. Since the lifting of the 8pm curfew when South Africa moved to level 3 of lockdown on June 1, crime has spiked. Police Minister Bheki Cele recently said he was concerned by the surge in the number of murders since the alcohol ban was lifted under level 3. Security companies have said residents are taking the law into their own hands before calling them or the police for help. Glen Naidoo from VIP Security in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, said residents were using…

OPINION No one-size-fits-all answer in school debate PROFESSOR LABBY RAMRATHAN OUR natural instinct is to protect the young. Are we compromising this innately human characteristic by sending our children to schools on July 6? There are no clear answers to this concerning question. Most of those associated with school education, including unions and school governing bodies, are against the opening of schools for the lower grades of pupils as proposed by the Department of Basic Education following the gazetting of this decision. Parents are too scared to send their children to school. Some of the reasons advanced include exposure to the disease, pupils not being able to follow the safety protocols, young children remain largely asymptomatic, some may bring the disease into the homes of family where there may be…

‘I cannot wait to hug her and shower her with love’ CHANELLE LUTCHMAN IT is never easy to be away from a child, especially when they are as young as 6. A guardian and mother of two, who used to visit a little girl at St Monica’s Children’s Home every week, said she knew the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic and understood why the facility adopted the no-visiting policy. “I am a friend of the family. I used to take care of her older sister. Prior to her being placed at the home, she lived with me and we bonded. We may not be blood relatives but this little girl grew up in front of me and my family and I have to check up on her,” said the guardian.…

Voters best served by making MPs answer to them AMI NANACKCHAND PHANDO JIKELO African News Agency (ANA) Archives THE coronavirus is ripping up life as we know it. Everything has changed. We can barely recognise ourselves any more, especially the natural hair colour of some of us, which is 50 shades of grey. Politics has also changed. There is less heat and more light due to an apparent new-look president. But what of the other lawmakers? How many of you, dear readers, can name just five members (apart from members of the executive and office bearers) of the National Assembly, or for that matter, the Council of Provinces? As far as I am aware, there are 400 notable members of Parliament and 50 in the other house. With a few…

Stigma attached to positive test I WRITE this after taking a Covid-19 test. While waiting for my turn to be tested, I realised from the conversations that some people are more worried about the stigma attached to being tested Covid-19 positive than the actual virus. Regrettably, it seems the coronavirus pandemic may produce inadvertent effects in terms of stigma. This is detrimental not only for those who have come down with the virus but for everybody. Stigmatising people because of being tested positive is wrong just like any form of stereotypes and can lead to isolation and depression. Such labelling can negatively affect those who have acquired it, as well as their acquaintances, family and friends. It can make people hide their condition to avoid discrimination and can even prevent…

Put words into action on GBV PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa was impressive in his address to the nation recently. After highlighting the twin dilemma of lives versus the economy posed by the coronavirus pandemic in South Africa and globally, and opening more of the economy with trepidation, he made an impassioned plea against another pandemic sweeping the country – femicide. After the ban on alcohol was lifted, about 21 women were murdered. There is a close correlation between alcohol abuse and violence against women and road accidents. We saw a spike in violence against women and children when the ban on alcohol was lifted. Ramaphosa said that as a husband and a father he was appalled at the horrible way men in the country were treating women and children. They are…

RECIPES Winter warmers Celebrity chef Videhi Sivurusan shares recipes for vegan comfort food. Follow her on www.videhi.co.za and on Veganise with Videhi on Youtube Curried Soya Chunks And Dumplings DUMPLINGS 2 cups (500ml) cake wheat flour pinch of salt 4 tsp (20ml) baking powder 1 knob vegan margarine 1 cup (250ml) lukewarm water CURRY 4 tbs (60ml) olive oil ¼ tsp mustard seeds ¼ tsp cumin seeds ¼ tsp fennel seeds 1 small piece of cinnamon stick 1 cup (250ml) finely chopped onion 80ml finely sliced celery stalk 1 tbs (15ml) coriander powder ½ tbs (7.5ml) cumin powder 1 tsp (5ml) turmeric powder 1 tsp (5ml) garam masala 2-3 tbs (20ml-45ml) mixed masala or chilli powder 1 cup (250ml) dry soya chunks soaked in boiling water 1½ tsp salt 1 large…

Calming the anxious mind LEARNING how to meditate when you are troubled with anxiety is an important part of the self-healing technique that you cannot ignore. Meditation has been widely recommended as a natural remedy for anxiety. Theoretically, it was supposed to provide a mind-calming experience for those who suffer from anxiety. But the reality is, most people who suffer from anxiety find it hard to meditate. Some even feel frustrated by the fact that they cannot keep their mind silent. Here are some simple techniques to help you calm down and gently enter a meditative inner state: • It’s always helpful to begin with your breathing. For the next few minutes let go of any other thoughts and become aware of your breath. Breathe in deeply filling your lungs.…

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE FORMGUIDES RACE 1: PREVIEW: Difficult. WINGING IT (1) made a promising debut and then took on winners next time out. He has drawn well here and can go close. RITE OF PASSAGE (9) is a well bred first timer from the Cape and could pay to follow in the betting. DANDOLO (2) showed up well in a smart barrier trial. Rested since but looks to have some scope. IMPARTIAL (5) showed up nicely in his barrier trial and could be anything. (Andrew Harrison: 1-9-2-5). RACE 2 PREVIEW: Tricky. VIHAAN’S PIE (10) made a smart debut at long odds. The extra should suit and she rates a strong chance. NIRVANA GIRL (12) has the worst of the draw but was a beaten favourite last time out. She should muck…

Klopp happy with young guns No need to splurge cash as Neco Williams, Harvey Elliott, Jake Cain are lined up for ‘internal transfers’ DOMINIC KING WHAT next? Jurgen Klopp has just won Liverpool’s first league trophy in three decades, but he knows there is no time to stand still. “I’ve heard people say it is only a real thing if we win twice in a row!’’ Klopp said, with a disbelieving smile, during the course of a 40-minute Zoom call yesterday. “That is really funny! That is obviously an English thing.’’ Klopp may raise an eyebrow at how quickly the narrative is moving around the newly-crowned Premier League champions, but he is aware there is an expectation he will bolster his squad from this position of strength. Anfield has not…

VEDAN’S VIEW Plenty more to play for in EPL run-in ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za LIVERPOOL are Premier League Champions for the first time in 30 years. This was confirmed after the Reds thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 last week and second place Manchester City lost 2-0 against Chelsea. Though City are now out of the Premier League title race, Pep Guardiola’s side still have the FA Cup and Champions League to concentrate on. They may need to focus hard on the Champions League as they stand to miss out on the next two editions of Europe’s premier club competition. Manchester United had an interesting week. The Red Devils claimed a 3-0 win over Sheffield United last week in a league game. Anthony Martial scored a hat-trick for United and became the first…