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Est 2009 Issue 16 - 2020

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30 April - 7 May 2020

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Inner City Gazette

UJ produces prototype for low-cost ventilator The designs will support the development of critical control systems that protect patients supported by ventilators Johannesburg - A team of University of Johannesburg engineers and healthcare specialists have created a prototype for a low-cost ventilator in the fight against Covid-19.

The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment is coordinating efforts to develop open-source ventilators; support repair and maintenance efforts to bring out-of-warranty equipment into service and make rapid prototyping facilities available to enable personal protective equipment manufacturing.

Reports indicate that South Africa has less than half the number of ventilators needed to deal with peak infections. They state that the public healthcare system has 1 111 operational ventilators, with the private healthcare having 2 105.

The team of engineers, led by Dr Deon Sabatta and Dr Samson

Masebinu says it has taken a threepronged approach towards support for critical-care technology development in response to the Covid-19 crisis, which is expected to peak between July and October.

By building on these open-source designs, the team says it has developed a minimal viable product with elements that can be manufactured through 3D printing and laser-cutting techniques. The designs will support the development of critical control systems that protect patients supported by ventilators.

Sabatta said ventilators are complex medical devices, more intricate than simply squeezing a bag.

“Our product includes devices such as pressure sensors, flow sensors, and a number of control algorithms. It can be set up to perform more advanced ventilation tasks

such as pressure support ventilation (PSV) or synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV). This is a step up in ventilation support, by being able to help patients further when they are tiring from being on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems for extended periods,” he said.

Sabatta said though the prototype has not yet been approved by the regulatory bodies, they hope to do this soon before the expected Covid-19 peak in July.

“The idea is to share the prototype and have other people come on to make it viable,” he said.

Sabatta said they want the prototype to be scaled up and used not only in South Africa but also in the

Dr Samson Masebinu

rest of the African continent.

The UJ Process Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ-PEETS) is supporting efforts to identify decommissioned ventilators at public and private hospitals, and to bring this out-of-service equipment back online.

Masebinu said: “Through our repair and maintenance undertaking, this assignment will build on the principles of circularity and create employment opportunities since there are large amounts of equipment that can be repaired and cali-

Dr Deon Sabatta

brated for reuse, especially beyond our borders. There is no sector more critical at this moment than healthcare, which is why we are proud to play a role in helping to produce and revamp these critical life-saving devices.”

The UJ-PEETS team says it is gearing up to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the clinical technical services sector to deliver on the 500% to 1 000% growth in ventilator production needed globally to prevent Covid-19 deaths owing to product shortages.

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Inner-city Gazette

News

The

fastest growing careers to watch in 2020

Natalie Rabson on Behalf of Boston City Campus We seem to be surrounded by a heavy situation and confusing times for all South African’s. We need to remain positive and upbeat –and we have some practical ways for you. What are the downsides of what we are experiencing? Chaos, panic and stockpiling, loss of work and loss of studies. So how do we turn this around?

Consider what will be in use 24 hours a day, despite ports being closed, ban on travel and closed schools. The internet! Tech! This is where we will not only spend our time, but we can create our futures. The temptation will be to spend all the time on Netflix, but imagine if you set some aside to gain new skills? Our present and our future is all about what happens on our laptops – so make yourself valuable and learn or upgrade your career.

Due to the flexible nature of online learning, Boston has always used technology to maximize benefits to learners. These include greater knowledge retention as well as learning in your own time and your own space, and lastly of course, at your own pace. Now is the best time to take advantage of this with new 4th IR careers such as cybersecurity, data science and project management.

Computer and mathematical occupations are growing at a rate of approximately 22% and they have one of the highest average salaries.

Thanks to expanding mobile networks, and a growing energy sector, IT professionals have an extremely favorable outlook. As big data increasingly drives commerce, the skills needed to control our vast networks of information are more valuable than ever. The demand for data scientists continues to grow.

Data Science has emerged as one

Kobus IT of the most popular fields of the 21st Century. Companies employ Data Scientists to help them gain insights about the market and to better their products. Data Scientists work as decision makers and are largely responsible for analysing and handling a large amount of unstructured and structured data. In order to do so, he requires various tools and programming languages for Data Science to mend the day in the way he wants.

Cyber security secures your future as you need to always be one step ahead of where the next breach will be. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. These

cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information; extorting money from users; or interrupting normal business processes.

Graphic designers’ job functions often require greater insights into the information that is presented in order to reproduce it in a visual way that the client and audience will understand.

They look to improve the way information is represented, whether it be company projections or marketing a cold drink.

Project Management as defined by the Association of Project Management as “the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.” Both Project and product managers work across disciplines, taking the output of team members and integrating it into the bigger picture. One of the most notable characteristics of opportunities for project managers is their truly global nature.

If one of these fields speaks to you, there’s plenty of time to get prepped and make the switch, and use the time you have now to develop so that when we emerge from this recession you will be in the top position to offer employers up to date skills, or to open your own consultancy because you will be in such high demand! It’s never too early to get started enjoying the sense of well-being derived from promising and fulfilling work.

Prepare to thrive!

Visit www.boston.co.za, or call 011 551 2000.

30 April - 7 May 2020

Technologies to fight climate change - UN Tech Reporter

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new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations (UN) report titled Frontier technologies to protect the environment and tackle climate change, says from cutting emissions in cities to natural disaster risk reduction, smart water management and precise climate monitoring, frontier technologies in fields such as artificial intelligence, 5G and robotics demonstrate considerable potential to support the battle against climate change.

The ITU is a specialised UN agency responsible for issues that concern information and communication technologies.

The report investigates eight fields of innovation; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Internet of Things (IoT); 5G; clean energy technology; digital twin; robotics; Space 2.0 technologies; and digitalisation and big data.

ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao says Covid-19 has made clear that we are all interconnected, and that our response must be collective, across countries and sectors, and that information and communication technologies (ICTs) have an important role to play in accelerating solutions. “How we respond to climate change, as one humanity, must follow the same principles. This report is a call to action for governments, civil society, academia, the scientific community and the technology industry to join UN agencies in their effort to leverage frontier technologies to tackle the urgent climate crisis,” Zhao says.

The report offers case studies exploring applications of frontier technologies to reduce air pollution and manage e-waste, support smart water and energy management, generate clean energy, model “digital twin”

ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao

cities for disaster risk reduction, support smart agriculture and food security, and monitor our planet’s climate and biodiversity.

The report emphasises the overarching goal of this innovation, the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG 13 on Climate Action.

It also highlights the potential of frontier technologies to support the achievement of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°c above pre-industrial levels.

The report concludes with observations and recommendations for the rollout and adoption of frontier technologies.

These conclusions encourage us to plan for the future, today.

They recognise the potential of frontier technologies to assist countries in “leapfrogging” economic and social activities known to be detrimental to our environment.

But they also caution that frontier technologies are not a panacea; their success in combatting climate change will call for government support to climate action, inclusive innovation engaging all stakeholders, global access to new technological capabilities, and applications of frontier technologies at the scale necessary in order to achieve global impact.

30 April - 7 May 2020

Inner-city Gazette

Resumption of schooling to be phased in

Sassa to process Covid-19 grant beneficiaries “When people get registered, we need to push out the payment and do it once a month for the next six months” Johannesburg - The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) will screen applicants to confirm their qualification for the recently announced special Social Relief of Distress grant.

The Covid-19 unemployment grant of R350 per month is for the unemployed, who do not receive any other social grant or UIF payment, which is to be paid out for the next six months.

Sassa chief executive officer Busisiwe Memela - Khambula said the databases will include the SA Revenue Service (Sars), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“They will use an SSD or a WhatsApp process to register. You are going to be able to indicate I’m not employed, I’m not getting UIF, I’m not getting an NSFAS fund, I’m a South African; then we will check these details against the databases.

The system will automatically say whether you qualify or not; then we

News

Schools must sanitise classrooms before the start of every school day; ensure everyone sanitises hands when entering classrooms and place limits on movement of pupils between classes CEO Busisiwe Memela - Khambula

will put you to the back-end and process the payment,” Memela Khambula said.

She added that foreign nationals who have legal papers to be in South Africa would qualify.

Memela - Khambula said after registration they hope to start doing the payments at the beginning of May. “Once processing is done, we will pay at that time, and won’t wait until the end of the month. When people get registered, we need to push out the payment and do it once a month for the next six months. We shall use three possible processes; an evoucher, a mobile money transfer, if you have a bank account, we’ll put the money into the account,” Memela - Khambula said.

Johannesburg - The Department of Basic Education is planning to phase in the return of pupils to school, with Grades 7 and 12 being the first to get back on Wednesday, according to directorgeneral Mathanzima Mweli.

The other grades are expected to return over between May and July, as lockdown restrictions are eased, with Grade R set to get back on July 15.

Mweli, who was addressing parliament’s basic education oversight committee, said as part of managing the risk, Grades 12 and 7 would return first.

“They are comparatively mature pupils, who could help with the orientation of younger learners upon entering a particular school

for the first time,” Mweli said.

He added that there would be no May, June exams this year, as the time will be used for teaching.

“The plan is Grade 12 pupils will write preparatory exams in September, with the final exams rescheduled to November and December. The matric results will most likely be released about the middle to end of January 2021,” he said.

The department protocols advise that schools must ensure that hugging, handshaking and direct contact must be avoided; cloth masks to be worn by pupils and teachers at all times; no mass public events; sports matches, choral practices and festivals are not permitted; and extra classes should be arranged in

Basic Education director-general Mathanzima Mweli

small groups that maintain social distancing.

Schools must sanitise classrooms before the start of every school day; ensure everyone sanitises hands when entering classrooms and place limits on movement of pupils between classes.

Proposed dates for the resumption of schooling are: Grades 12 and 7 - May 6; Grades 11 and 6 May 20; Grades 10 and 5 - June 3; Grades 9 and 4 - June 17; Grades 8 and 3 - July 1; Grades 2 and 1 July 8; and Grades R on July 15.

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News

MMC Lloyd Philips

Inner-city Gazette

30 April - 7 May 2020

Market agents donate food for the poor Johannesburg - After being inspired to help relief efforts in poverty-stricken communities, agents trading at the Joburg Market donated over 32 tons of fresh produce to the City of Joburg’s food bank on Friday.

The donation was accepted by Economic Development MMC Lloyd Philips and Joburg Market board chairperson Simon Clarke.

That followed Mayor Geoff Makhubo’s appeal for enterprises to assist the City administer food relief during the national lockdown.

Market agents act on behalf of farmers on the trading floor and represent the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (IMASA),

the largest source of food donations to the City’s produce distribution depot.

IMASA chairperson Nico Muller said: “We felt inspired to assist people who are in need of food, and to play a part in ensuring food security in Gauteng.”

The Joburg Market food bank collects, sorts and reviews food for quality before allocating it to nonprofit community agencies, including orphanages, poverty-stricken crèches, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, schools, old age homes, disability centres and indigent families who are unable to cover funeral costs.

It collects weekly donations of

fresh produce from market agents and retrieves foodstuffs marked by security as unclaimed and unaccounted-for on the market floor. It also uses its allocated budget to buy fresh produce for NGOs and indigent households.

The bank receives a substantial proportion of its donations from agents who usually have excess produce they cannot sell in the normal course of business.

Philips thanked IMASA for the food donations.

“The contribution will help us fight persistent hunger. The City’s food relief efforts are aimed at the most deprived residents, about 16 000 to 19 000 households,” he said.

He urged residents to keep safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19. He advised them to follow the World Health Organisation’s precautions to use soap and water or an alcoholbased hand sanitizer to keep their hands clean; maintain safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing; not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth; cover their nose and mouth with a bent elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing; stay at home if they feel unwell; those with a fever, cough and difficulty breathing to seek medical attention by calling health authorities; follow the directions of their local health authority; and avoid unnecessary visits to medical facilities.

Over a million screened for coronavirus

Residents protest over not receiving food parcels

Pic: JMPD

Residents protest over food parcels

Booysens - On Tuesday Booysens informal settlement residents blocked several roads with burning tyres and rocks protesting over nondelivery of food parcels.

JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said the protest started from Eloff Street. “Community members say they have not received food parcels since the lockdown began, and blocked the road from the Eloff Street extension,” Minnaar said.

He added that the action affected

nearby Selby and Rosettenville.

Residents who survive from food they collect from nearby dumping sites accused their ward councillor Mongameli Mnyameni of ignoring them and preventing donors from bringing food parcels for them.

Community leader Thembelani Zwane also accused Mnyameni of failing to educate them about the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We can’t sell recyclable materials we have collected before lockdown.

Many of us don’t know anything about the coronavirus. We survive by eating expired food from dumping sites because we don’t have money to buy groceries. We have pleaded with our councillor to educate us about this virus but he ignores us. We are worried because should one be positive, we shall all die,” Zwane said.

Mnyameni denied the claims, saying he brought people to the area to educate residents about the virus;

and also denied that he ignored them over food distribution.

“There is no way I can prevent people from donating food to our people. I went to all voting stations in my ward and coordinated lists of people who should receive food parcels. After the announcement by the province that all leaders must distance themselves from food distributions, I did so. I have given their names to the social development department,” Mnyameni said.

Johannesburg - On Monday the Gauteng Health Department announced that over 1.2 million people have been screened for the corona virus in the province.

In a statement Health MEC Bandile Masuku said since embarking on the large scale community screening and testing campaign at the beginning of April, 1 298 266 have been screened, which is about 8% of the Gauteng population.

“Of the people screened, 13 558 were tested. The province is sitting at 1 331 positive cases, eight deaths and 868 recoveries.”

The department said it would do all it could to ensure that more people get tested.

On Monday screening was conducted in areas that have recorded the most infections in Johannesburg, which include Sandton, Alexandra, Wynberg, Orange Grove and Houghton. On Monday the areas had recorded a combined 248 positive cases.

The Health Department said the areas to be covered were Alexandra, Marlboro Industrial, Setswetla, Orange Groove, Orchids and areas along Louis Botha, Sandringham, Glenhazel, Linksfield, Lyndhurst, Lombardy East, Kew factories and Lombardy West, Bryanston, Paulshoff, Fourways up to Witkoppen Road, Sandton Centre and taxi rank, Grayston, Athol Oaklands and surrounding areas, Riverclub, Parkmore, Sandton suburbs, Klipfontein and surroundings, Modderfontein and Greenstone areas, Kya Sands, Bloubosrand and Craighavon.

Those referred for screening would most likely be those who display flu-like symptoms, people over the age of 60 or have chronic health conditions that include diabetes, asthma, hypertension, HIV/Aids and TB.

30 April - 7 May 2020

Homeless urged to remain in shelters Johannesburg - In a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Gauteng government is working with metros to erect tents and use abandoned buildings to provide sanctuary for the homeless during the lockdown.

On the first day of the national lockdown, law enforcement in the Joburg CBD removed people from the streets and took them to shelters.

But the Gauteng government says most have since run away. Those who left have been accused of using drugs and needing a fix.

The province has started a process of getting them back into the shelters, hoping to remind them on the importance of sheltering in the allocated places.

Acting Social Development MEC Panyaza Lesufi said: “Some of the homeless still roam around. But we will persuade them, not force them.

I am told others ran away. We will make the facilities available. They will see that it is better for them to be here than in the streets.”

Mayor Geoff Makhubu says the City is planning to have about 1 200 tents for the homeless.

“We have identified other facilities in Ellis Park to turn them into tent villages, as a short-term measure.

We need help in converting some disused buildings as sites,” he said.

The shelters ensure the homeless are fed and given blankets; and also allow for the screening of Covid-19 and medical assistance to be given.

Statistics reveal there are at least 15 000 homeless people in Gauteng.

Inner-city Gazette

News

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Landlords, tenants to show humanity during lockdown “The burden of proof will be to demonstrate that all parties did their best to accommodate each other during a time of extraordinary hardship” Johannesburg - It is expected that after the lockdown, the courts will demand proof that landlords and tenants demonstrated ubuntu during the coronavirus crisis, according to a prominent property lawyer.

This means that landlords won’t be able to rely on current common law solely in court, when trying to evict or recoup money from tenants.

All parties will have to demonstrate they did their best to accommodate each other.

Ubuntu is a recognised legal principle in South Africa, and has been used in legal cases to demand humanity, respect for dignity and morality.

The managing director of property law firm SSLR in Johannesburg, Cilna Steyn expects that the landlords won’t be able to solely rely on current common law in court, when they try to evict or recoup money from tenants who cannot afford to pay their rentals because of the coronavirus crisis.

“They will have to demonstrate ubuntu; that they didn’t profit while

the tenants lost all of their income due to the crisis and couldn’t afford to feed their families,” Steyn says.

The same principle will be demanded from tenants who refuse to pay landlords. South Africa’s large commercial property owners are facing a struggle for survival, as their major mall tenants are not paying rent during the lockdown.

“The burden of proof will be to demonstrate that all parties did their best to accommodate each other during a time of extraordinary hardship,” says Steyn.

Already, almost a third of South Africa’s residential tenants did not pay full rent in April, according to preliminary data from Tenant Profile Network (TPN).

May is expected to be a bloodbath, when it will reflect the first mass job losses as a result of the coronavirus crisis and lockdown. According to one estimate, almost a million South Africans could lose their jobs due to the crisis.

Steyn says that a fake news report that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize

had barred landlords from collecting rent money from their tenants has already contributed to an increase in non-payment, while the eviction of homeless people by municipalities has created uncertainty about whether evictions can proceed.

Government has banned any evictions during the lockdown, as well as sheriff services for evictions. But TPN has seen a 30% surge in letters of demand against SSLR managing director Cilna Steyn tenants, as landlords continue to demand rent and prein a position to assist the tenant fipare for cancellation of leases and nancially, but who have failed to possible evictions post-lockdown. do so, will probably be given more Steyn says landlords are allowed time to vacate given the current crito send these letters of demand. sis,” she adds.

“It is crucial for landlords to do She advises landlords and tenants, so where tenants and landlords are who can’t afford to pay full rent, to unable to find middle ground, and conclude a separate and very speafter considering their personal cific agreement to accommodate circumstances. Tenants who were the period of non-payment. unable to pay rent because of the This could include using the deeffects of the coronavirus, and who posit in lieu of rent, or arranging have landlords who were factually deferment of rent. Business Insider

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Inner-city Gazette

30 April - 7 May 2020

30 April - 7 May 2020

Inner-city Gazette

The Arts

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Grant support for digital collaborators Sne Mdiya

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The late Miriam Makeba (left) with Angélique Kidjo

Pic: Unicef

Makeba’s hit re-launched to fight Covid-19 Arts Correspondent

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he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that anti-apartheid music legend Miriam Makeba’s classic Pata Pata song has been re-released with new lyrics aimed at helping beat the spread of the corona virus.

The words of the 1967 song, which became synonymous with South Africa’s liberation struggle, have been re-written to encourage safe distancing and hand washing.

UNICEF said: “Once called the world’s most defiantly joyful song, it has been re-recorded, to spread information and hope at this difficult time of the corona virus pandemic.”

Benin-born UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo, who was mentored by Makeba, sings the rerecorded version, the UN children’s fund said in a statement.

The words Pata Pata mean “touch touch” in isiXhosa. The reworked version has no alterations to chords or syllables, but some changes to the lyrics. Some of the lines in the version go: “In this time of coronavirus it’s not touch time. Everybody can help fight Covid-19. Stay at home and wait it out. This is no-pata-pata. We need to keep our hands clean. Don’t touch your face, keep distance please.”

Fondly known as Mama Africa, Makeba won a Grammy award for Best Folk Recording with American

musician Harry Belafonte in 1965.

Her music was however outlawed in her homeland, after she appeared in an anti-apartheid film. She died aged 76 in November 2008 after a performance in Italy.

Kidjo said the song reminded her of a friend, Afro-Jazz veteran Manu Dibango who died earlier this month after contracting corona virus.

“Manu and Miriam inspired me; and Pata Pata gave me hope. Pata Pata has always been there for people at a time of the struggle. I hope it helps once more,” Kidjo said.

Makeba was a United Nations goodwill ambassador who worked on hunger, HIV/Aids, domestic violence, and also as a civil rights activist.

usiness and Arts South Africa (BASA) encourages projects between creatives and businesses, with focus on online collaborations, to submit expressions of interest to be considered for grant support.

BASA CEO Ashraf Johaardien says there is real power from deep collaboration between the right partners.

“The purpose of the Supporting Grants’ platform is to ignite partnerships that are able to effect meaningful social change. As government contemplates risk-adjusted approaches to resuming economic activity, it seems an opportune time to support and amplify business and arts partnerships that are exploring digital frontiers or innovating in virtual spaces.”

Johaardien says the Supporting Grants platform offers a slightly different lens to conventional funding in that the focus is on amplifying and extending existing partnerships between arts and businesses.

“The public-private partnership that led to the formation of BASA in 1997 was a key part of South Africa’s strategy to secure greater involvement as well as support for the arts from businesses. The Supporting Grants programme was designed

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By Prophet Philip Banda

BASA CEO Ashraf Johaardien Pic: Jan Potgieter

to assist in activating sponsorship for a cross-section of arts projects in different regions, by providing financial support to a project that is in an already existing business and arts relationship.”

He adds that while the team is encouraging applications between digital collaborators, all planned business and arts partnerships are eligible for consideration.

The application process for Supporting Grants has now been simplified, with interested parties merely submitting a formal letter of interest as a first step, and BASA then inviting eligible applicants to complete an online application. There is no deadline, and applications are considered throughout the year.

Visit http://tiny.cc/basaSG for criteria and application guidelines, or email enquiries to sipho@basa.co.za.

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Covid-19 break effect on PSL soccer players ‘As professional players, we are all at home and have the time in our hands. What we do with the time should allow us to compete when we come back, so that we are not far behind in our fitness’ Phumzile Ngcatshe

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idvest Wits midfielder Alexander Cole has expressed his thoughts on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) break, saying it has affected their momentum.

However, he is of the view that all the PSL teams will have to start from scratch.

“I think we were doing well, before the lockdown, winning games and bagging points. We had some momentum. But I think the break hasn’t come at the right time. The lockdown,

though, is not only affecting Wits but every team in the country.

We need to do the things we can control. As professional players, we are all at home and have the time in our hands. What we do with the time should allow us to compete when we come back, so that we are not far behind in our fitness,” Cole says.

With many having expressed thoughts that current log leaders Kaizer Chiefs should be handed the PSL title, Cole says it is a complex situation because some people are saying the league

should be considered null and void and should resume next season.

“This is not only affecting the teams at the top, but also those at the bottom, who are fighting to avoid relegation. I think it’s up to the league to look for situations where we know that everyone, the players and fans are risk-free,” Cole says.

Bidvest Wits currently occupy the sixth position in the PSL log, with 38 points. They are left with nine matches to wrap up the 2019/20 season. Goal.com

Wits midfielder Alexander Cole