PostWednesday, August 12, 2020的目錄

‘WE SURVIVED COVID DEATH’ SA wins the battle but the war continues NADIA KHAN, CHANELLE LUTCHMAN AND THANDEKA MGQIBI WHILE the number of Covid-19 infections are falling countrywide, there are fears the worst is yet to come for KwaZulu-Natal – eThekwini in particular. In the past week, the number of new infections has shown a decrease nationally. But, during a visit to the province last week, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize warned KZN could become the epicentre of the disease. He said while infections in KZN were climbing, they were falling in the Western Cape and Gauteng. This week, eThekwini Municipality mayor Mxolisi Kaunda warned the city was the epicentre of the epidemic in the province. He expected an upsurge in new infections in the coming weeks. “Let us continue to…

‘Liquid gold’ oils future plans KZN woman tells of journey from corporate Germany to making prize-winning SA olive oil THANDEKA MGQIBI Supplied VENISHREE Mayer is the first Indian South African woman to produce extra virgin olive oil. From humble beginnings in the small sugar cane village of Darnall in the Ilembe District, Mayer is now a multi-award-winning oil producer and the owner of Fraaigelegen Farm in the Cape Winelands. Her brand, Adhara Evoo premium extra virgin olive oil, was launched in 2018 and has won an award from the South Africa Olive Association. She said winning the award felt like a stamp of approval. “Being the first Indian woman in South Africa to be actively involved in the industry is groundbreaking,” said Mayer. She said she was acutely aware of…

‘Hero’ granddad shot in front of family CHARLENE SOMDUTH Reaction Unit South Africa WHEN Krishna Allan Pillay heard multiple gunshots near his home in Blackburn Village near Mount Edgecombe on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast last Wednesday, he went outside to see what was happening. Pillay, 44, was then confronted by a gunman who demanded money. When he did not hand over any cash, he was shot in the neck. He died at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital. His brother, Gonaseelan Pillay, said his sibling died a hero. “Allan runs a tuckshop and a gaming shop on the same property as his home. He also provided scholar transport. When he heard the gunshots, he left his family to check on the children who were always at the game shop. He then saw…

Plea for help as ship spills oil off Mauritius THANDEKA MGQIBI A JAPANESE ship, the MV Wakashio, believed to be carrying nearly 4 000 tons of fuel, has caused a major oil spill off Mauritius after it ran aground. According to theguardian.com, the bulk carrier only started oozing from a crack in the hull on Thursday, resulting in more than a 1 000 tons of fuel seeping into the sea. The Mauritius government declared a state of environmental emergency and asked France for help because the island is a former French colony. “Our country doesn’t have the skills and expertise to refloat stranded ships, so I have appealed for help from France and President Emmanuel Macron,” said Pravind Jugnauth, the prime minister, on Friday. Meanwhile Mitsui OSK Lines – the…

Many schools are struggling to collect fees from parents POST REPORTERS PRIMARY and high schools have historically had a problem collecting fees from parents, but this has worsened since the lockdown. While some parents have been exempt from paying their children’s fees at government schools, others have either paid what they could afford, or they have chosen not to pay. But since the lockdown, the school fee collection rate has become concerning for principals and school governing bodies (SGBs). The POST spoke to the principals and SGBs at 30 schools in Merebank, Pietermaritzburg, Verulam and KwaDukuza (Stanger), and the collection rate so far has ranged from 0% to 35%. One school is, however, going against the grain and hopes to collect 50% by September. Some principals and SGBs have said…

Are our women really free? They still deal with sexual harassment, are undervalued, and face oppression in their homes WHEN capitalism is in crisis, it turns on women, people of colour, LGBTI++ and other minority groups. We have seen this throughout history. When the two world wars ended, economies were in tatters and capitalism had to repress women to regain its edge. Men returned home to find women doing “men’s work” and the realisation that they were no longer able to provide for their families in the way that society expected them to. This created what Bell Hooks (US author, feminist) refers to as a crisis of patriarchal masculinity. Men were suddenly confused about their role in the family and society, because the meaning they attached to being men as…

Habi Singh worthy of praises I INTENDED to visit Habi Singh after the lockdown was lifted and when travel between Johannesburg and Durban was allowed. Now that he is gone (he died of Covid-19), I cannot personally thank him for his contributions to my life. Last September, at my 60th celebration musical journey concert, I paid tribute to my role-model, Mr Singh. During my schooling at Loram High from 1963 to 1966, Mr Singh was not only my English teacher, but he taught me the art of public speaking and groomed me to lead the debating team and represent our school at the Hofmeyer Memorial Speech Contest. This was my springboard into my vocation as MC for the past 52 years. I spent more time with my guru, as he…

Race-based laws more prolific than in apartheid MUCH was made by the likes of Nelson Mandela after 1994 that non-racialism would characterise South Africa’s future and erase the cancer of race-based laws. But 26 years on, race-based laws are actually more prolific than before. Let’s do the sums: between 1910 and 1948, 17 race-based Acts of Parliament were passed. From 1949 to 1960, the foundation years of apartheid, 26 such acts were promulgated. From 1960 to 1980, a further 16 were passed. That totals 59 over a period of 70 years. From 1980, the NP began relaxing and dismantling apartheid. According to researcher James Myburgh, since 1995 the ANC has promulgated 90 race-based laws in just 25 years. Whereas the cornerstone of apartheid was the Population Registration Act of race…

Being held to ransom by ‘vermin’ THE article “Murder rate rises in Kwa-Zulu-Natal” (the POST, August 12 – 16) is worrying. Crime statistics released by the government have shown that crime is still high and that it deserves a strong and appropriate response. I am sick to the stomach reading every week about murders, house robberies, protests and hijackings. We are being held to ransom by vermin who roam our streets. My question is: What are the authorities doing about it? Preaching against vigilantism will soon fall on deaf ears as people have had enough. We as South Africans must stop living in denial. We must admit that South Africa has taken a plunge into a world of darkness. A country that has a remarkable history of respect, rich in…

Your Stars SHARRON DUFF Aries (March 21 – April 19) Try not to give away too much this week. You may need to keep a secret that has been entrusted to you by someone close. You may feel pressurised to spend time with people whom you don’t really like but this will help to mend bridges and pave the way forward to healthy relationships. Lucky colour: Orange. Taurus (April 20 – May 20) You may feel rushed off your feet this week. Keep your focus and don’t allow others to distract you from your purpose. Make notes wherever you need to and try to find the time to relax with family and friends if possible. All work and no play is not healthy for anyone. Lucky colour: Pink. Gemini (May…

WE GO DIGITAL! ON THE ROAD WITH IOL MOTORING WE haven’t stopped the presses (and we don’t plan to stop), but we are making exciting changes to ensure our loyal readers get the best motoring news in South Africa in a new and exciting way. Added to our weekly print edition, which will continue to appear in the Thursday papers nationally (The Star, Pretoria News, Daily News, Mercury and Cape Times), you can expect a fresh, new monthly digital edition that covers all the latest car news, new model launches, concept cars, motorsport insights and more in bite-sized features. Drive360’s deep reach into the automotive sector enables us to bring you exclusive content and we hope that this digital edition will serve to supplement the work we do in print.…

ESHLIN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE UPDATE Chance for Man City to maul Lyon One leg shoot-out favours minnows ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za THE big shock from the Champions League fixtures last week saw French club Lyon eliminate Juventus on away goals after their tie ended 2-2. The Old Lady defeated their French counterparts 2-1 on the night following a heroic brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, but this couldn’t save them from elimination. Juve have since sacked Maurizio Sarri and appointed club legend Andrea Pirlo, pictured, as their manager. Despite dominating the Serie A in recent seasons, Juventus have struggled to exert themselves in the Champions League, a competition it last won in 1996. Pirlo’s appointment has been met with surprise. The 42-year-old lacks managerial experience, something which Juventus might need right now. Fallen European…

‘Out of the blue the virus turned my life upside down’ ANNIE DORASAMY THURSDAY, 7.45am and I’m in bed being awoken by my 4-year-old. The painkillers I took the night before did nothing to ease the headache or the body pain. Besides feeling like I’ve been run over by an 18-wheeler, I’m freezing even though I’m under the covers. Maybe it’s a cold, flu, even fatigue? I usually tend to wait it out a few days before rushing to a surgery, in the hope that I’ll feel better. But not this morning, I should go to the doctor. Even though the only symptom is pain, there’s no protest between my gut and my brain that I have to check it out. I tell hubby I’m not feeling well. His response…

Who will be the next AG? Here are the candidates CHANELLE LUTCHMAN SEVEN candidates have been shortlisted to replace Thembekile Kimi Makwetu who is preparing to vacate his position as South Africa’s auditor-general (AG). Makwetu has been the auditor-general since 2013. His term will end in November. From 71 applications, Parliament’s ad hoc committee on the appointment of the auditor-general shortlisted seven candidates last week. They are: Tsakani Maluleke: She is a qualified chartered accountant and joined the auditor-general’s office in 2012. Maluleke is the deputy auditor-general and serves as a non-executive chairperson of the board of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. She has more than 20 years of experience in both the private and public sector, having worked at Deloitte, Izingwe Holdings and the Energy and Water…

Crash patient discharged CHARLENE SOMDUTH DAFFANEE Moodley, who lost four family members including her 9-year-old daughter in a car crash in KwaDukuza last month, has been discharged from hospital. Moodley, 33, unemployed, was a passenger in a BMW driven by her husband, Seeran Moodley, 35, an IT specialist. Their children, Adelle, 9, a Grade 1 pupil at Stanger Manor Primary, and Zakey, 18 months, were also in the car. They were on their way to Glenhills to drop off Moodley’s parents, Daniel Chetty, 58, a retired mechanic, and Shakila, 56, a housewife, after they had spent the day together. Their vehicle collided with a Mercedes-Benz on the R74 near KwaDukuza. The Mercedes driver survived with injuries. Moodley’s husband, daughter and parents died at the scene, while she and Zakey were…

Family, friends mourn pilot killed in India jet crash FAMILY and friends of Captain Deepak Vasant Sathe, the veteran pilot who was killed in Friday’s Air India Express aircraft crash at Kozhikode International Airport in Kerala, are struggling to come to terms with his death. The Air India Express flight was travelling from Kozhikode via Dubai – under its Vande Bharat repatriation mission – when it overshot the table-top runway while landing in heavy rain. The plane fell into a valley about 10m below and broke into two. There were 190 people on board – 18 of whom have reportedly died, including Captain Akhilesh Kumar. “It’s hard to believe that Deepak Sathe, my friend more than my cousin, is no more,” said Nilesh Sathe, a relative, on social media. Sathe…

Save us from financial ruin, plead gym owners Call to government to allow fitness facilities to reopen NADIA KHAN Supplied GYM owners, employees and fitness enthusiasts embarked on a countrywide protest last Wednesday demanding the government allow fitness facilities to reopen. In June, President Cyril Ramaphosa had said South Africa’s level 3 lockdown regulations would be relaxed to allow a number of businesses to reopen. While many non-contact sports were allowed to resume under the revised regulations, gyms and fitness centres remain closed. The protest was held by FitSA, the association of health and fitness clubs. Grant Austin, FitSA’s spokesperson, said it was time that the fitness industry raised a collective voice. “This is not only for the 29 000 people who are employed to help keep South Africa fit…

Calls to fully reopen tourism sector CHANELLE LUTCHMAN TOURISM has been one of the hardest-hit sectors during the nationwide lockdown, with 124 000 employees from KwaZulu-Natal alone waiting for the industry to be fully operational. Ravi Pillay, the MEC for finance in the province, said: “This sector is of serious concern to us. It contributes a significant percentage to the GDP (gross domestic product) of KZN. More importantly, it provides employment to about 124 000 people.” He said while the industry had already lost out on revenue since April – during Easter and the July school holidays – it needed to recover as soon as December. Pillay said these two periods produced virtually zero income and the sector was in distress. “We need to see the earliest recovery.” He said…

Wishes flow in for Covid-positive Buthelezi NADIA KHAN MANGOSUTHU Buthelezi, the IFP founder and advocate of social cohesion, has been inundated with messages wishing him a speedy recovery after he tested positive for Covid-19. On Saturday, family spokesperson DrBhekuyise Ngqengelele Buthelezi said the veteran politician had come into contact with a positive case recently. He said Buthelezi, who turns 92 on August27, was not displaying any symptoms. “He is self-isolating at home for the mandatory period... We are pleased to say that he remains asymptomatic and is in good spirits. As a family, we have put in place a capable team to keep watch over the situation. We are aware that many families have journeyed this road of infection and the overwhelming majority have emerged to full recovery. We, therefore,…

Paediatric doctors urge that schools reopen DR FIONA KRITZINGER SIPHIWE SIBEKO Reuters WITH no clear evidence that closing schools significantly reduces community transmission or overall deaths, as paediatric doctors we urge government to open schools to all pupils and not to allow fear or politics to harm the children of South Africa. Based on studies done internationally we believe that the benefits of attending school outweigh the risks and that public schools should be allowed to reopen for all pupils. Children’s risk is lower than adults’ Children and young people have a lower susceptibility to Sars-CoV-2, with 56% lower odds of being an infected contact. South African data on Covid-19 case distribution by age shows children aged 5 to 9 have an incidence of 15 cases per 100 000 population;…

Schools must ensure safekeeping of chemicals REGARDLESS of the exact ingredients that led to an explosion in Beirut, it all boils down to some chemicals that reacted adversely to either accidental negligence or to deliberate tampering. I refer to the former possibility, and find it necessary to point out that all schools that offer courses like physical science and have laboratories that store chemicals for experiments as part of the curriculum, are always at risk of such accidental blazes. There was a period when subject advisers were appointed to regularly inspect schools to ensure that the chemicals were stored correctly. Even the fire department had to check that laboratories were compliant with the stringent regulations. This included ensuring that the cupboards where these chemicals were stored were locked, and the…

Covid-19’s lessons of life are simplicity and letting go WE ARE all experiencing the same difficulties, pain and suffering around the world. Covid-19 has changed everyone’s lives. We must keep calm, keep safe and practise hygiene at all times and remember to always wear our masks. Sometimes our minds race ahead and make us anxious about being infected with the virus. During the lockdown, many of us have learnt to try new things. We have attempted cooking different types of food and we’ve even done our own housework. Although there is a lot of tension and paranoia in the country, we have all empowered ourselves in some way or the other. Let us feel proud of our accomplishments. Women are master multitaskers. It is indeed a sad time for most…

Call for caretaker government A letter to Narend Singh, the IFP chief whip THE ANC has lost control in maintaining law and order. Every week there are news reports of government officials or senior employees embezzling from the coffers of the country. Sir, you have to urgently address the senior members of the IFP to take a bold stand and call for the ANC government to step down from office. We have no confidence in them running the country to the state of bankruptcy. The only power they have is to enrich themselves. We are calling for a caretaker government to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the country. The irony of the government is that liquor is banned because crime is uncontrollable. When I was 14, I was taught to…

Lockdown anthem ‘Opsitp’ resonates LATOYA NEWMAN Supplied DURBAN rapper-producer Sheen Skaiz’s lockdown music video has resonated with thousands of young fans on social media. With a banging beat and lyrics such as No gwaais, no dop by the pozi; no bruhs allowed, I’m lonely; park dom, live long stay pozi… the song has hit home as young people navigate frustrations related to the pandemic and the lockdown. It had garnered more than 80 000 social media likes by the end of last month. Titled Opsitp, Skaiz said he thought he might have created the most relevant song in South Africa right now. He said he could not let time pass during the lockdown so he decided to document his experiences in a song. “With my trademark use of South African…

Understand a culture through its cuisine, says chef LATOYA NEWMAN CESAR ‘ADRELATIN’ ALVARADO FARZANA Ismail Alvarado, a popular chef and culinary consultant, and her 5-year-old son, Luayy, are becoming social media hits for their food posts. Born and raised in Reservoir Hills, Durban, Alvarado, aka Chef Zana, qualified at the HTA School of Culinary Art in Johannesburg. She completed her internship at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg. After her studies, Alvarado lived in Europe for a few years. She now lives in Johannesburg with her family. Alvarado said her earliest memory of baking was decorating cookies for Eid late at night with her mother and sister. “I remember painstakingly putting chocolate on the ridges of melting moments using a toothpick. “I also remember watching my late grandfather Ebrahim Rashid…

Changes to 2020 tax season SANJITH HANNUMAN Pexels.com FINANCE Minister Tito Mboweni’s recent special adjustment Budget has highlighted a rising rate of unemployment (about 30.1%), a mountain of debt (R4 trillion – 81.8% of the gross domestic product) and reduced tax collection. These were among some of the matters South Africa faces as it fights the Covid-19 pandemic. The economy is expected to contract by 7.2% this year, the largest contraction in nearly 90 years. The government expects to miss its tax revenue target by more than R300 billion with the gross tax revenue collected during the first two months of 2020/21 standing at R142bn, compared to the initial forecast of R177.3bn. The opening of companies will be gradual and take from 12 to 18 months to normalise (if they…

Raina inked ahead of IPL CHENNAI Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina, pictured, has revealed on social media that he has added more tattoos to his arms ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Before leaving for the UAE, the former India batsman decided to tattoo the names of wife, Priyanka, and son, Rio, on his arms. The southpaw had the name of his daughter, Gracia, already tattooed on his left arm. Raina uploaded a photo of himself on his Instagram account after getting inked and his post read: “They give me a reason to live.” Raina, the second highest run-getter in the history of the IPL after Virat Kohli, had earlier said that wickets in Dubai could be similar to the ones in Chennai. He had…

NEW HOME FOR LOCAL SPORT ON SABC ESHLIN VEDAN THE Covid-19 crisis has changed the face of the media and more especially the sports media landscape throughout the world. African sports media stalwart Gary Rathbone, pictured, was recently appointed as the SABC head of Sport. Rathbone, who previously held high-profile roles in the UK and China, will oversee sports rights acquisitions and sports programming operations, in addition to launching a new exclusive SABC sports channel. “The sports landscape has changed significantly over the last decade, with technology allowing for greater access to a much wider array of sports content for broadcasting. “It was paramount that the SABC extends its sports offering beyond the linear television space to ensure universal access to sports content ‘everywhere anytime’,” said Rathbone, speaking exclusively to…

ARCHER: WE’LL MISS STOKES’ FIGHTING SPIRIT ENGLAND fast bowler Jofra Archer has stated the hosts will miss the services of talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes after it was announced he won’t be part of the team for the final two Tests against Pakistan due to personal reasons. England lead the three-Test series 1-0 following their thrilling three-wicket win in Manchester but now will have to play the final two matches in Southampton without Stokes. The second Test is scheduled to be played at Ageas Bowl starting tomorrow. “We now have to complete the job without Ben Stokes. He is someone we would miss even if he was unable to bowl or hit a ball. “He has such an impact in the changing room beyond what he does in the middle,” Archer…

Ferrari’s pit stop strategy attacked FERRARI driver Sebastian Vettel wasn’t happy with his team’s pit stop strategy and he let them know during the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. Vettel finished 12th after spinning at the first corner and even dropped to last momentarily. Following his first pit stop on Sunday, Vettel joined the traffic and was heard over radio as saying: “You know you messed up.” “We spoke this morning and said there was no point pitting knowing that we will run into traffic – and that’s exactly what we did,” he told reporters later. “We also went on to a hard tyre, which we then only had on for 10 laps, probably not even that, so it didn’t make any sense. “I mean why would you put…

How entry-level vehicles fared in safety report JANINE MOODLEY IF YOU drive a French-manufactured Peugeot 108, you are considered to be driving the safest entry-level vehicle in the country. If you drive a Chinese-manufactured Changan Star III SC STD, you are in the least safest vehicle. This is according to the AA’s latest Entry-Level Vehicle Safety Report, conducted to highlight vehicle-safety features at a time when many people are looking to downsize their vehicles. “The current socio-economic outlook remains negative reflecting the same, if not a heavier, burden to South African consumers in 2020 than in previous years,” the AA said. “Compounding the situation further is the current global Covid-19 pandemic. For this reason, the entry-level vehicle market remains one of the most competitive, as motorists seek more affordable driving…

Court to decide on fate of man’s ashes JANINE MOODLEY SIX WEEKS have passed since Rakesh Nana died after contracting Covid-19, and last Thursday his remains were finally cremated. Nana, 40, of Worcester in the Western Cape, died on June 24. His body lay in state after a legal dispute arose between his immediate family and his sister and her children regarding who should perform the last rites according to Hindu customs. The matter was heard in the Western Cape High Court. In terms of health regulations, the body should have been cremated or buried within three days. According to Hindu custom, the disposal of the body should happen as soon as possible after death. Nana was separated from his wife, Praneshvari, for two years and they were finalising their…

Plea to open heart, purse to Beirut victims JANINE MOODLEY ISLAMIC Relief South Africa is calling on the country’s citizens to support the people of Lebanon following the explosion in its capital Beirut. According to reports, at least 200 people died and more than 6 000 were injured. These numbers are expected to rise as rescue workers dig through the rubble looking for survivors. The explosion took place last Tuesday. At 6pm, the roof of a warehouse caught fire. This caused the first explosion followed by a series of smaller blasts. A nuclear-like explosion followed seconds later, causing a mushroom cloud to billow into the air and a supersonic blast wave into the city. Michel Aoun, Lebanon’s president, claimed the explosion was caused by 2 750 tons of ammonium nitrate…

Charter firms want licence fees returned NADIA KHAN Supplied MEMBERS of the Private Charter Passenger Association in KwaZulu-Natal are using their savings to pay staff salaries and to meet bank repayments. The association, which provides private transport to schools, churches and international tourists, has not received an income for more than four months. It is appealing to the Department of Transport to return its licence fee – paid six months ago – to help pay its expenses. Last week, members of the association travelled by convoy to the Jonsson Kings Park Pool in Masabalala Yengwa (NMR) Avenue in Durban where they handed a petition to DA MPLs Sharon Hoosen and Heinz de Boer. Fiona Leggatt, the association’s chairperson, said its members feared they would face permanent closure within the next…

Premier to name businesses given PPE tenders CHANELLE LUTCHMAN SIHLE Zikalala, the premier of KwaZulu-Natal, is expected to release a list of all the businesses that received personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders in the province. “An official statement will be sent out to say exactly when the premier will make these details available to the province,” said Lennox Mabaso, Zikalala’s spokesperson, on Tuesday. Last week, Tito Mboweni, the National Minister of Finance, called on all provinces to publish the list of the companies that were awarded Covid-19 PPE contracts. He said the list must have each company’s details, who their competitors were and on what basis the competitors had lost their bids. Earlier, in a series of tweets, Mboweni said a tender was an ethical contract and not a blank…

EDITOR’S VIEW Call for tender transparency is a step in the right direction THERE is nothing wrong with ANC leaders, their children or even their friends doing business with the state. The simple truth is that it would be unconstitutional to stop people earning a living by virtue of the fact they are linked in some or other way to a person who holds a position in government. If that was the case, taxpayers would have to pick up the living costs of everyone linked to a person who is authorised to spend government money, and that would not be feasible. Instead, our focus should be on how much the government pays for goods and services and the quality of the work provided. If a minister’s wife, child, extended family…

Criticising the faiths of others is wrong I AM always perturbed when I read articles or meet people who condemn and criticise religious beliefs that differ from their own. All religions teach people to be good, kind, tolerant, humble, moralistically upright, humane and so much more. To the critics, practise your beliefs by all means and let others do the same. Live and let live. Has your religion taught you to be arrogant, nasty, snobbish, intolerant, disrespectful and superior? No matter what our faith is, we all have the same needs, wants and desires. Covid-19 has clearly shown that no one is immune to illness and death. We all suffer the same pain and suffering and we will all die one day. To paraphrase what someone once wrote: there is…

Graft right under the president’s nose PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa must be gobsmacked. He recently expressed disgust at the hyenas in the party devouring the money intended for victims of the Covid-19 pandemic. To combat this crime he said he had instructed the Special Investigating Unit to track down the cackle of hyenas and have them locked up. We were not impressed. We’d heard it all before. Right under his nose his spokesperson Khusela Diko has been identified as the alleged ringleader of a R125 million personal protective equipment (PPE) tender. While working with Bandile Masuku, the Gauteng MEC for Health, it is alleged that a R125m PPE tender was irregularly awarded to her husband, King Thandisizwe Diko. Now the ANC top brass is calling on Ramaphosa to act decisively against…

Concern over sewage overflow EVERY three months the sewage manhole at the entrance to the Gem City car park in Phoenix overflows. Many councillors in Phoenix have offices in or near the area yet they appear blind and they do not attend to the problem. There are also many food outlets in the vicinity. This is proof that Phoenix councillors are lazy. The sewage overflow can lead to people contracting illnesses. Will the councillors only act when someone’s health is affected? ZAHIR DANBAR Phoenix…

Try not to panic, assess your finances SARAH NICHOLSON THE implementation of Covid-19 level 3 regulations has reminded us there will be life after the lockdown, eventually. As we start to think beyond day-to-day coping, the impact of Covid-19 becomes more apparent. The pandemic has dealt the economy a blow and our personal finances are probably reeling as a result. There is pressure on people to deal with family dynamics during the lockdown, plus juggling work and home schooling, and taking a longterm view has been put on hold. Unfortunately, bills don’t stop coming in just because we are occupied with other matters. The truth about our battered economy and the need to change our spending habits is starting to sink in. What should you do, and where do you…

getting HOOKED THE flat seas and lovely weather have made long days on the sea very pleasant. Combine this with some hectic action and you have magic. The North Coast has seen the majority of the snoek action. Any of the spots that offer proximity to a river mouth or some good rips are great places to target snoek. Fillet baits have been the key to catching the bigger fish, with redeye sardine fillets out-performing Jap mac and Natal sardines. Everyone has their own secrets to tying a snoek trace. The simplest method is just a suitable hook and a short section of American Fishing Wire, number 4. The tuna have been around for those wanting to target something bigger. Poppers and live bait have been the winners for these…