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7 - 14 May 2020

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Africa CDC to probe Madagascar’s herbal

Covid-19 ‘remedy’ Although it was not tested internationally, Covid-Organics is being produced in bulk by the Madagascar Institute of Applied Research, and is being distributed door-to-door in the capital Antananarivo. Johannesburg - On Tuesday the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said it is obtaining technical data on the herbal remedy that Madagascar claims has cured Covid-19 patients. The African Union (AU) said it was talking to Madagascar’s embassy in Addis Ababa about the safety and efficacy of the substance known as CovidOrganics. Madagascar said it is now producing the tonic from a plant called Artemisia for herbal prevention and treatment of Covid-19. Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina recently presented the herbal tonic to other heads of state on the continent at a teleconference of the African Union chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Although it was not tested internationally, Covid-Organics is being produced in bulk by the Madagascar Institute of Applied Research, and is being distributed door-to-door by the army in the capital Antananarivo. Countries that include Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea ordered and received the tonic, which according to Madagascar cures Covid-19 patients within 10 days. The Africa CDC said once it is furnished with the details, it would study the scientific data gathered on the safety and efficacy of Covid-Organics. The centre said its review would be based on global technical and ethical norms-based scientific evidence. On Wednesday SA Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said the country received

a request from the government of Madagascar, and that it is willing to help. “We did get a call from the government of Madagascar. They asked us to help investigate the scientific basis on which such a drug could be used,” Mkhize said. The herb in question is African Wormwood (Artemisia Asteracae), known for clearing the respiratory tract. This is a popular herb used locally and called umhlonyane in isiZulu, and lengana in seSotho and seTswana. The request was made by the country’s foreign affairs minister, Mkhize said. “And there had been a call from the president about the issue, and we then said our scientific research institutions will be willing to support an analysis on that matter,” Mkhize said.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize

Inner-city Gazette

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With

good training you can go from zero to hero in business

Do you want to run your own small business, but don’t quite know where to start? Take the idea of your product or service, combine it with some learning and you can soon be turning your business ideas into profit, says Natalie Rabson of Boston City Campus. “Starting and running a small business is regarded as one of the best solutions to the high unemployment figures worldwide,” she comments. “While this is a great idea it must be combined with good training and skills, as well as guidance to be able to succeed in the small business arena. Fortunately, you can easily enrol for a course in small business, as you would in any other field of work.” Natalie recommends three specific courses in the Boston stable of commerce qualifications to get going in a successful business. “The first one that comes to mind is the Boston short learning program for the Small Business Owner,” she says. “It can be completed within 6-9 months and gives you the basic skills you need to start running your own business or run a business on behalf of someone else. In total it contains nine different modules that lead to 48 Higher Education credits on National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 5 and 14 credits on NQF Level 6.” The programme includes interesting topics on useful skills such as Windows; word processing; spreadsheets; business management techniques; principles of entrepreneurship; integrated marketing communication; and introduction to business accounting, which covers the basic principles and procedures of accounting. Once you complete the course, you will be able to apply the principles of general management as well as human resource management to real business situations. The course also develops your entrepreneurial and project management skills. “The whole focus of the small business owner short learning program is to give you the necessary skills that you can put into practice from day one as a small business owner,” says Natalie. “Identifying a great business opportunity or coming up with an innovative new product

7 - 14 May 2020

Facebook invests in SA newsrooms ICFJ will provide $140 000 in these grants to South African publishers, as well as a $250 000 video training programme for 10 000 journalists across the continent covering Covid-19 through video reporting Jenna Delport

Boston Students learning the skills of chocolate making at The Chocolate Den, (before Lockdown) is only the beginning. To go from zero to hero in business, you need real business know-how and tenacity, as we have seen in the case of our great businessmen like the late Sol Kerzner in hospitality, Richard Maponya in diversified business and Mark Shuttleworth in IT”. Kerzner didn’t invent hotels; they existed for ages before he appeared on the scene. But through hard work, business ingenuity and creativity he took hotels and hospitality to another level. With business acumen and practical skills, start-up businesses and part-time ways to earn money can be developed into sustainable businesses. The Chocolate Den situated in Edenvale is a small business that has slowly grown in various aspects such as service and online availability. During the Corona lockdown they have offered free online training in various skills that can be used to start your OWN small business! And the ‘tools’ required can be ordered online. Excellent adaptability to not only grow their own business, but assist others to create their own small home business that can be run from

home. All you need are your small business owner skills. The other qualifications that Natalie recommends for aspirant businessowners are the Higher Certificate in Business Management Practice and the Diploma in Business Management. The Higher Certificate in Business Management is a Boston higher education program that can be completed in one year. It covers modules that include computer literacy, business management, entrepreneurship, socioeconomics, basic accounting, industrial psychology, company law and business communication. The Diploma in Business Management is a three-year course on NQF level 6. It covers similar modules as the other business qualifications mentioned but goes into greater depth and has additional modules such as brand management, applied research, applied psychology and project management. For more information and assistance in selecting the qualification that is best suited to your career dreams, go to www.boston.co.za, or call 011-551 2000.

Facebook Journalism Project (FJP) has announced that it will invest $390 000 to help South African news organizations navigate the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. As part of these funds, Facebook will work with the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ), a nonprofit organisation with a history of working with publishers across the world. ICFJ will provide $140 000 in these grants to South African publishers, as well as a $250 000 video training programme for 10 000 journalists across the continent covering Covid-19 through video reporting. Facebook Africa strategic media partnerships manager Jocelyne Muhutu Remy says the news industry is working under extraordinary conditions to keep people informed during the Covid-19 pandemic. “As people turn to local journalists for critical information on how to keep their friends, families and communities safe, these journalists are affected especially in the current economic crisis,” she says. ICFJ’s VP of programmes Johanna Carrillo says Sub-Saharan Africa’s newsrooms will need to play a key

Facebook Africa media partnerships manager Jocelyne Muhutu Remy

role in informing the public in a highly vulnerable region. “With this new grant from the Facebook Journalism Project, we can build on our work together helping newsrooms and publishers in the region at this difficult time,” she adds. This investment builds upon Facebook’s on-going Covid-19 centred work in South Africa and across the continent, which includes launching the Coronavirus Information Centre on the platform, as well as Covid-19 Connect, a WhatsAppbased health helpline developed in partnership with the Minister of Health and local Facebook partner, Praekelt. IT News Africa

7 - 14 May 2020

Inner-city Gazette

SABC introduces learning channel during pandemic

MMC lauds City staff in Covid-19 fight The City’s Health and Social department has been conducting Covid-19 screenings, testing, medical supply, and providing food relief to the most vulnerable communities. Johannesburg - Joburg’s Health and Social Development MMC Eunice Mgcina has commended City workers who are at the forefront in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The City’s Health and Social department has been conducting Covid-19 screenings, testing, medical supply, and providing food relief to the most vulnerable communities. Mgcina said if all municipal employees continue to work as a team, the City and the country as a whole will eventually beat the pandemic. “I call on all of us to unite our efforts, to be brave and also to fall back on the knowledge that the

News

The core content will be broadcast in a customary manner, while ancillary programming will stream via digital platforms

Health and Social Development MMC Eunice Mgcina

City’s 5.6 million citizens need us more than ever before,” she said. Mgcina also thanked family members of all City employees for their unwavering and continued support. The City has established a 24hour Joint Operations Centre, tel 010 224 0932, to assist residents with emergencies during the national state of disaster.

Johannesburg - SABC has launched a new TV channel meant to benefit all pupils during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has negatively affected the country’s education system. The channel, called SABC Education, went live on Monday, initially available on YouTube and digital terrestrial TV. SABC group CEO Madoda Mxakwe said the nation requires such interventions to fill gaps that have been created by the Covid-19 related changes. “This will ensure that education and learning continues outside the traditional classroom environment. The SABC Education channel is a long-term project that is targeted at

foundation, intermediate, high school, civic and tertiary education categories. The introduction of the channel is in line with our education strategy which has been in the pipeline for some time,” he said. Mxakwe explained that the core content will be broadcast in a customary manner, while ancillary programming will stream via digital platforms. “The digital streaming of the channel will be carried using the SABC Education portal, SABC Education Virtual Academy, social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other SABC channel websites,” he said. Mxakwe added that the learn-

SABC group CEO Madoda Mxakwe

ing channel will broadcast public service content from the Department of Education, educational programmes currently available on SABC 1, 2, 3 and the channel’s archived material on limited basis.

Inner-city Gazette

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7 - 14 May 2020

Covid-19 screening drive for govt and municipal workers Takalani Sioga

he Office of the Gauteng Premier has rolled-out a mass screening and testing campaign for government workers, including the City of Joburg, until 30 May. The mass screening and testing campaign under the auspices of the Gauteng Transversal Employee Health and Wellness Programme (EHWP) will be rolled out in two categories. Category A encompasses essential service workers, security personnel, and support staff returning to work under Level 4 lockdown regulations. Category B will target employees who were working from home and will be returning to work post the lockdown. The programme will cover the municipalities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, the West Rand and Tshwane. The City of Joburg has rolled out a massive public testing campaign in its seven regions and informal settlements. It has availed about 21 clinics across the municipality as testing centres for symptomatic

Joburg Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo

residents. The municipality has also established a 24-hour Joint Operations Centre at its headquarters, the Metro Centre to assist local resi-

dents with any emergencies during the national state of disaster. Mayor Geoff Makhubo urges residents that are symptomatic to get tested at the closest testing and screening station in their region. Joburg residents who wish to locate clinics made available for Covid-19 screening should call the City’s 24-hour centre on 010 224 0932, says Makhubo. “It is incumbent on us to help flatten the curve and fight this coronavirus. Please continue wearing your masks when going out, practice social distancing and wash hands regularly,” he adds. Provincial and local government employees who want more information about the mass screening and testing campaign can contact Mandu Menze on 076 447 7973 or email menyezwa.menze@ gauteng.gov.za. According to health authorities, people may show symptoms of the coronavirus after 14 days of acquired infection. Most common indicators of Covid-19 are fever, tiredness and a dry cough.

Commission and MTN reduce data prices

MTN South Africa CEO Godfrey Motsa

Johannesburg - Cellular network provider MTN says it has finalised an agreement with the Competition Commission on price changes, implemented from 15 April. This follows the Commission’s Data Service Market Inquiry in December 2019 and negotiations between the commission and the cellular industry. MTN South Africa CEO Godfrey Motsa said: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the commission. It is a social commitment that we continue to advance the measures already implemented over the past number of years, to drive financial inclusion and reduce data prices.” The agreement with the Competition Commission include that all sub-1gb 30-day data bundles, from R10 to R149, be reduced by up to 50%; pro-

vision of a daily free 20mb allocation of data to all customers; introduction of OpenTime, free access to education, health and employment websites accessible without data charges. There will also be enhanced data usage and tariff information for all customers, to track usage and inform customers of their spending habits. The 20mb and 50mb bundles double in volume, from 20mb to 40mb and from 50mb to 100mb, without any change in price. Prices stay at R10 and R20 respectively, but for double the data. The one gigabyte bundle has a 34% reduction, from R149 to R99, while 1.5gb is R149, a 21% reduction. Users in the 50 gigabyte and 100 gigabyte ranges have prices dropping 25% and 29% respectively.

Lockdown disappoints matriculants Nodumo Makaza Matric students have expressed concern on the Covid-19 lockdown that has put their studies on hold. This comes after the announcement by the Basic Education department that schooling may only resume on 1 June for the Grade 7 and 12 learners. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga recently said schools need at least a month to prepare for the educators’ return. “We need the whole month to prepare for the return of learners and we are starting on 4 May to prepare. The main aim is to make sure that as the education sector we don’t want to contribute to the spread of corona virus,” she said. Matric students are worried about the time they have lost on studies and are unsure that they will have enough time to prepare for exams. A Grade 12 student at New Model School in the Joburg CBD, Chantelle Mnguni said: “It is disappointing for us not to attend our lessons because we are losing a lot of time that could have been used productively. We do not have another year to redeem ourselves, unlike other grades.” She added that studying at home is not easy, as there are a lot of distractions, and it requires one to be disciplined to be able to adhere to the studying timetable, and online classes have proven to be unproductive. “Sometimes I attend online lessons on a WhatsApp group with other students but it’s not effective as some students do not always have data and the teacher is forced to cancel lessons,” she said. The resolution by the Department of Higher Education to resort to elearning is proving to be difficult, as well as widening the inequality gap in the education sector. Communications manager at Jeppe College Mashudu Munyai says some students do not have access to the internet as they live in areas with no network connection. “Some students cannot access remote learning on Facebook, WhatsApp or emails because they live

Matric pupil Chantelle Mnguni

in areas where they cannot access network connectivity, and data is expensive. This makes it difficult for teachers to continue lessons with a few students,” he said. He said monthly assessment enshrined on the academic year plan have also been disturbed. “We were supposed to start trimester exams on the 31 March and up to now the decision regarding the exams has not been made. The Department of Higher Education and Training’s exam timetable has been disorganized,” he said. Teachers have also not been spared by the coronavirus lockdown, as it has caused financial instability for them. This has made most parents to neglect paying fees, making teachers lose their sources of income. The lockdown has also affected pupils in lower grades, who are uncertain of the future. Noma Sibanda, the mother of a Grade 2 pupil at Esteri primary school in the Joburg CBD says it has been a difficult time for her daughter as she cannot afford data for her to attend online lessons. “It has been a challenging time for me and my daughter. I cannot afford data though I try teaching her spelling and reading. She used to do drama as her extra mural activity, these drama lessons are available online, but I cannot afford data as I’m not working at the moment,” she says. The Basic Education department is yet to provide proposed dates for the re-opening of other school grades.

Black Label supports abuse victims

The #NoExcuse campaign alert

Johannesburg - Liquor brewing company Carling Black label has created a WhatsApp line to help and encourage victims of domestic abuse to speak up during the Covid-19 lockdown. High volumes of domestic abuse have been noted during the lockdown period, as government does all it can to control the spread of the corona virus. The brewing company’s brand director Arné Rust said the brand wants to encourage victims to be brave and also give a helping hand through its #NoExcuse campaign. “This is a very concerning development, particularly as we do

not know how many cases remain unreported. This WhatsApp line gives victims of abuse who could be men or women a way to get counselling silently. It also puts men who are struggling to be their inner champion in touch with a mentor, someone to talk to, so that they can start on the journey to be champion men. All of this can now happen silently,” Rust said. He explained that all victims have to do is send the word BRAVE to 0800 150 150 to get in touch with the right organisation to get the help they need. “We will also partner with other corporate entities, government de-

partments as well as affiliates such as Takuwani Riime and the Men’s Sector, to grow awareness of the service and remove barriers to getting assistance. Whilst #NoExcuse has always encouraged victims to be brave and report immediately, there are other socio-economic problems that need to be considered,” Rust said. He added that the campaign has two phases. “First is to raise awareness about the LifeLine number, as people should know help is available. The second phase is to provide insight on the WhatsApp functionality and that help is only one Brave text away,” Rust said.

7 - 14 May 2020

Inner-city Gazette

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Cashless ATMs for

Moeti said the fatality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was at 3.9%, but measures taken by governments were beginning to show results.

SASSA recipients WHO director for Africa Dr Matshediso Moeti

WHO concerns over Covid-19 Johannesburg - On a recent panel with Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa director Dr Matshediso Moeti said the fatality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa was at 3.9%, but measures taken by some countries are beginning to show results. On the panel, which was convened by the World Economic Forum, Moeti said it is politically challenging for countries to put measures in place to stop the pandemic, but they should use metrics to back their decisions. By last Thursday the number of Covid-19 cases in Africa were nearing 37 000, with 1 600 deaths.

Moeti said the fatality rate in SubSaharan Africa was at 3.9%, but measures taken by governments were beginning to show results. She said the West Africa region is now a major concern. “We are seeing community spread in a significant number of countries compared to others. We are working particularly with the UN in West Africa to see how to support that,” she said. At that time the North Africa region had the highest number of cases with 14 500. South Africa and Egypt had the highest cases, both at around 5 300 each, and Algeria recorded the highest fatalities, at 444.

Johannesburg - The South African Post Office has launched cashless ATMs to serve as additional payment points for South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) social grant recipients. The machines are to help bring financial services close to where people live; and also address digital, economic and social divides, according to the department of Postal and Digital Communications Technologies. Deputy Minister of Postal and Digital Communications Technologies, Pinky Kekana said the cashless ATM solution will help decongest the current SASSA grants payment points. “Concerning government regulations to encourage social distancing to curb the spread of Covid-19, the additional 10 000 ATMs access points for social grants payments within the areas in which beneficia-

ries reside is opportune,” she said. The first ATM was installed at Kagiso Trading in Rustenburg, and over 10 000 more are to be set up in spaza shops and other township and rural businesses, the deputy minister said. To use the cashless ATM, a SASSA social grant beneficiary will insert their SASSA card and use the PIN to initiate a transaction, then elect an amount to be debited on their SASSA card. If the debit is successful, the ATM will print out two slips, for merchant and customer, confirming the debit. The customer will hand over the merchant slip to the spaza shop, and in exchange the merchant will give the customer cash or goods to the withdrawal value. In addition to accessing the social grants, SASSA the beneficiaries will be able to use the cashless ATMs to perform more transactions

Postal and Digital Communications Minister Pinky Kekana

without the need to withdraw cash. The other ATM transactions that can be done include buying prepaid electricity; pre-paid airtime; bill payments for municipality and more; insurance activations and payments; money transfer; ticketing; transport solution, such as the loading of contactless transport cards; and balance enquiries.

Hospitality industry workers stranded Nodumo Makaza

ospitality industry workers who include waiters, waitresses and bartenders have been left without a sustainable income after the closure of most restaurants due to the Covid-19 lockdown. The Level 4 lockdown allows the sale of prepared, hot food only in deliveries. Customers cannot visit restaurants to get takeaways and restaurants can only open for food delivery between 09.00hr and 19.00hr. “Restaurants and similar places will be open for delivery only, and that means customers don’t come to the shop but the food goes to the customers. The experience all over the world has been that this is a better way of limiting the movement of people,” said Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel. This has led to some restaurants like

Spurs, Nandos and Ocean Basket not to open under Level 4 lockdown, as they argue that it does not make business sense. Nando’s South Africa CEO Mike Cathie said opening for delivery only will make Nando’s and franchise partners lose more money than being closed. “We are focused on preserving the jobs of thousands of employees into the future, and cannot add to the already enormous weekly losses we are suffering,” he said. Patience Toiwa a waitress at Ristretto, a restaurant in Morningside, says her future is uncertain. “I am not a permanent worker at the restaurant. My payment depends on tips, so I am not eligible for a UIF grant. When the restaurant closed I lost all my source of income and I can’t even afford to pay rent and buy food. I am currently staying at my friend’s place. I am not even sure when the restaurant will open,” Toiwa says.

Jerome Ndlovu, a manager at a Mugg and Bean restaurant says he will soon be on the streets begging for food and accommodation, as all his savings have run out and he has not been able to receive any government food parcels. “I’m currently living on the mercy of my friends. If this lockdown doesn’t end soon we will be on the streets begging for food. I haven’t received any help from any government programme and we are starving,” he said. The Restaurants Association of South Africa says they were for hoping for the delivery and collection option, which would have changed the scale at which restaurants opened. Some fast food brands that have opened for deliveries under Level 4 include Chicken Licken, Debonnairs Pizza, Steers, KFC (some outlets), McDonald’s (selected stores) and Burger King (limited stores).

Manager at a Mugg and Bean Jerome Ndlovu Pic: Nodumo Makaza

Inner-city Gazette

7 - 14 May 2020

Inner-city Gazette

Arts Festival opts for digital realm

UJ announces UNFESTIVAL SA

When the festival launches in June, it will feature theatre, comedy, visual arts, workshops, talks and experiences Ruth Cooper

Sne Mdiya UJ Arts & Culture has announced a partnership with Business and Arts South Africa NPC (BASA) for a provocative new project, UNFESTIVAL SA. A week of un-theatre, un-dance, non-exhibitions, non-workshops and a smorgasbord of nothing that may or may not take place during May, depending on how you look at it. Head of UJ Arts & Culture Pieter Jacobs said: “We all know that festivals, arts centres, theatres, galleries and other cultural institutions have been forced into cancelling events amid the Covid-19 pandemic. UNFESTIVAL SA is a conceptual event inspired by the Czech Festival of Nothing, conceived as a means to help independent creatives and the most vulnerable in the arts sector. UJ has been a BASA member for several years, and we saw the opportunity to partner around this symbolic concept for the benefit of students in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, and through our partnership with BASA and its artist relief efforts, for the sector as a whole.” Jacobs announced that arts lovers, supporters and stakeholders will be able buy tickets to non-events at UJ.

The Arts

UJ Arts & Culture head Pieter Jacobs

“Fifty per cent of UNFESTIVAL SA’s proceeds will be distributed to needy students via the UJ FADA Dean’s Bursary Fund, which provides support for academically deserving students, and presents an opportunity for the public to give hope to the academic journey of the youth. The balance of 50% will be distributed via BASA’s supporting grants programme, which now offers artists and creative practitioners short-term financial aid for Covid-19-related medical care or to offset the loss of income due to the cancellation of engagements,” he said. The full UNFESTIVAL SA programme will be revealed at a Gala Opening on 15 May to which no one will go, or will be invited. Visit www.arts.uj.ac.za or www.basa.co.za for more details.

he National Arts Festival team has announced that it would enter the digital realm after it had to be postponed as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown. The festival’s team explained how the first-ever digital edition of the 46-year-old festival would work. CEO Monica Newton said the decision to go virtual was made with artists in mind. “We considered postponing but the timeline looked very uncertain. We have to work with Makhanda’s academic calendar and the only other time would have been December, which is impossibly hot in Makhanda,” she said. Artistic director Rucera Seethal said: “Choosing to go the virtual route was difficult, but we decided that it was better than cancelling.” The Virtual National Arts Festival, from 25 June-5 July, will be hosted on the Festival’s website www.nationalartsfestival.co.za, which will act as a portal to short films, virtual art exhibitions, online workshops and other experiences and events. Technical director Nicci Spalding said this will allow the organisers to protect the artists’ work from being downloaded or copied, and will allow the festival to manage access to the work as most of the programme will require audiences to buy tickets. Seethal said it is very important that the arts maintained its value in

the shift to an online space. “The festival will be selling ticket packages so visitors will be able to view a selection of works. Aside from the live works, it will be possible to view most of the shows at your leisure. Each day of the festival will offer an online programme for audiences to choose from.” Seethal said the festival is still open to ideas from artists and producers, also for ways to collaborate, offer resources, and mentorship. She pointed towards an Ideas Form on the festival’s website and asked that interested parties submit theirs as soon as possible because of the uncertain timeline and questions over freedom of movement. When the festival launches in June, it will have a curated daily programme for each of the 11 days that will feature a mix of theatre, comedy, visual arts, workshops, talks and experiences as well as elements of the Standard Bank Creativate Digital Arts Festival programme. There will also be an uncurated, open-access platform that will serve as a stage for artists to showcase their work and generate revenue from ticket sales. National Arts Festival Fringe manager Zikhona Monaheng said having an open platform for artists would allow anyone whose work was not selected for the curated daily programme to put their work online, and would create the potential to make

uotable

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By Prophet Philip Banda

Artistic director Rucera Seethal

some money. The festival will only take a 10% handling fee to manage ticket transactions in the open-platform space, leaving the artists with 90% of the takings. Accessibility, in terms of artists and audiences having the tools and data to participate in the festival, is a concern the festival is addressing. Executive producer Nobesuthu Rayi said that while this was a potential barrier, it was a consequence of the broader environment. “The move to do this festival online was motivated primarily by concern for artists. We wanted to enable as many artists as possible to be paid and have a space to show work. Right now, the digital divide is bigger than us but, once we start to take up space there, artists can participate in reshaping that space over time.” Those wishing to contribute ideas, resources or work for the festival can submit on the Ideas Form. Visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.

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CAF appoints ex- Basetsana coach as instructor trainer She is the second SA woman instructor of instructors after Fran Hilton-Smith Sports Reporter

he Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed former U-20 women’s national team coach Sheryl Botes as an instructor. CAF said she has been appointed as women instructor of instructor training. Botes is head coach of the SAFA Girls Soccer Academy at the High Performance Centre (HPC) in Pretoria. She said: “I am so excited about the appointment; it allows me to share my knowledge and experience with all the players and coaches in the country.” She is the second South African woman instructor of instructors after Fran Hilton-Smith.

“It is about making a difference and seeing the growth in women’s football. Being part of CAF is about rubbing shoulders with the best on the continent,” Botes said. But she will not be assigned duties yet as all soccer activities have been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “For the past few weeks we have been faced with daunting challenges, and I know if we continue to respect the regulations and restrictions set by our government, we can get through this. Let us continue and fight to slow down the spread of the virus and reduce further infections. Let us continue to wash our hands, wear masks and keep our social distances,” she said.

Botes will be required to conduct coaching courses in the COSAFA region but will still be with the HPC. “It is a great privilege to be part of SAFA and it is an honour to represent SAFA at CAF level,” she said. SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan said Botes is very experienced when it comes to producing players. “She is very experienced in producing players. Her appointment is an inspiration and good for women’s football in our country. Her elevation is in line with our philosophy where we have women coaches for women’s teams. We are proud of her being a shining light during these difficult times,” Jordaan said.

CAF instructor Sheryl Botes