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Inner-City Gazette
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16 - 23 July 2020
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Inner City Gazette
Call for access to Covid-19 vaccines The South African Ox1Cov-19 Vaccine VIDA-Trial is expected to involve 2 000 volunteers aged 18-65
Dr Matshidiso Moeti
Johannesburg - The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Africa has joined immunisation experts in urging the international community and African countries to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines. WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti says as the international community comes together to develop vaccines and therapeutics for Covid-19, equity must be a central focus of these efforts. “Too often, African countries end up at the back of the queue for new technologies, including vaccines. These life-saving products must be available to everyone, not only those who can afford to pay,” Moeti says. WHO and partners launched the Ac-
cess to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) accelerator to speed up the development, production and equitable access to Covid-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. It brings together leaders of government, global health organizations civil society groups, businesses and philanthropies to form a plan for an equitable response to the Covid-19 pandemic. WHO is collaborating with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to ensure a fair allocation of vaccines to all countries, aiming to deliver two billion doses globally for high-risk populations, and one billion for low and middle-income countries.
Hillbrow, brace yourself! You’re about to Taste the Difference!!! Pedros chicken has opened a branch at the heart of Hillbrow, Johannesburg. You don’t really know what chicken is supposed to taste like if you have never experienced the novel method of spicing that Pedros Chicken has on offer. You know your palette is well taken care of when you have a choice between basting sauce or sprinkle on chicken, served with spicy chips, garlic rolls or jalapeno poppers. And that does not even begin to scratch the surface of what this restaurant has on offer.
The clean and uncluttered approach to the store design is something that will catch your eye while relaxing you at the same time. Best believe, that is not an easy feat to accomplish. But the woody and earthy feel, given a fresh spin by trendy hues, warm lighting and inspiring design does the trick in an intricately exciting way. The ambiance created by the food and the design is delicately balanced by the big hearts of the staff members exuded on their beautiful smiles. Be careful, Pedros Chicken is addictive!
The African Union has endorsed the need for Africa to develop a framework to engage in the development and access to Covid-19 vaccines. Countries can take steps that will strengthen health systems, improve immunisation delivery, and pave the way for the introduction of a Covid-19 vaccine. These include mobilising financial resources; strengthening local vaccine manufacturing, and regulatory, supply and distribution systems; building workforce skills and knowledge; enhancing outreach services; and listening to community concerns to counter misinformation. Globally, there are nearly 150 Covid-19 vaccine candidates, and cur-
rently 19 are in clinical trials. South Africa is the first on the continent to start a clinical trial, with Wits University testing a vaccine developed by the Oxford Jenner Institute in the United Kingdom. “I encourage more countries to join these trials so that the contexts and immune response of African populations are factored into studies. Africa has the scientific expertise to contribute widely to the search for an effective Covid-19 vaccine. Our researchers have helped to develop vaccines which provide protection against communicable diseases such as meningitis, Ebola, yellow fever and other common health threats in the African region,” says Dr Moeti.
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16 - 23 July 2020
Partnership delivers dataSA institution aligns itself for graduate free Covid-19 placement and alignment with Corporate SA information
Author Carol S. Dweck is known for her work on the mindset psychological trait, where the ‘fixed mindset’ approaches learning from the point of view that you are born with certain skills and abilities. The other side of this coin is the growth mindset in which skills are viewed as competencies which can be learned and developed. “Places of Higher Education need to embrace the growth mindset. Implementing the principle of subject-specific and soft skills development, students must engage in an academic institution’s programme that aims to ready them for the workplace.” So says Ari Katz, CEO of Boston City Campus. “We require all Higher Education students to complete a module of Work Integrated Learning,” he says. “Playing a key role in providing practical, on-the-job training in a student’s particular field, the programme provides skill learning in an actual work context.” “Our aim is on equipping students with top workplace skills, as well as vital professional and interpersonal skills, in order to facilitate ease of employment on completion of their studies at our campuses,” says Katz. All higher places of learning need to in some way provide practical work experience and training as part of their curriculum in order to adequately prepare graduates for the ‘real world’. “If they fall short of this requirement, they send out graduates that fail to secure employment. This may be due to lack of exposure to the workplace and its expectations of day-to-day workplace behavior such as dress code, interaction with colleagues, and participating in tasks outside the scope of what is
Ari Katz written in the employment contract,” says Katz. “We prepare our graduates with training and graduate competencies that put them in a position to walk straight out of their studies and into a job. Our focus is on incorporating WIL into all degrees and higher education, ensuring that our students are work ready,” says Katz. The programme is very successful. At the Boston Media House it is overseen by Jeannette Campbell who manages the work integrated learning on a fulltime basis. Providing a bridge between the host company and the student, opportunity is created to harness key skills through experiential learning. In this capacity, Jeannette further solidifies corporate relations, underpinning Boston’s pivotal role in supplying top graduates in various industries over the last three decades.
“Students are actively assisted with their CVs – we actually mark them! While we play an active role in guiding them where to go and what to do, the onus is on them to get the placement,” says Katz about facilitating real life practice for when they’re out in the workplace getting a job. The WIL programme allows the host company to gain insight into the skill level of the student. “Our programme has proved successful, the greatest success being instances where the work integrated learning has resulted in permanent employment at the host company,” says Katz. Northern Cape graduate, Elton Kagisho is one such example. “”Boston goes all out to help students develop key skills through on-the-job training within qualifications. In this way we are ready for the workplace from the day we leave,” says Kagisho who is now part of the prestigious State Information Technology Agency (SITA). “As educators, we are committed to ensuring that our graduates are equipped to make a valuable contribution to the workplace, while furthering their careers. This means adopting a growth mindset, where developing and refining skills is a natural means to achieving competency as well as in a particular industry. In turn, this enhances the graduates’ chances of being employed. We provide a balanced higher education, giving our graduates an edge which in turn enables them to differentiate themselves in the highly competitive job market,” concludes the Boston CEO. Call 011 551-9000, e-mail info@boston.co.za, or visit www.boston.co.za.
Jenna Delport
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he World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered with Facebook and South African based Praekelt.org to provide data-free information on Covid-19 to vulnerable communities across the globe. This is said to add a vital element to the organisation’s work to fight misinformation and ensure access to accurate health information and resources on Covid-19. WHO director-general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “Through this collaboration, we will reach some of the most vulnerable people who will be able to access lifesaving health information without any data charges in more than 50 countries.” The collaboration uses Free Basics and Discover by Facebook, providing people access to useful services on their mobile phones in markets where internet access may be less affordable. The websites on Free Basics and Discover by Facebook, including WHO’s Covid-19 platform, are available without any data charges. Based on a founding premise that access to information is a fundamental right, Praekelt.org has worked with Free Basics and Discover by Facebook for several years. Among past projects was the Praekelt.org Incubator for Free Basics with Facebook programme; which provided NGOs and social enterprises with the support and tools they needed to deliver services to poor and marginalised communities via mobile. Praekelt.org MD Debbie Rogers says: “After a successful WHO
WHO director Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus
Health Alert launch on WhatsApp in March we are honoured to be able to continue our partnership with the World Health Organization and Facebook, to extend the accessibility of vital Covid-19 information and resources as the corona virus accelerates globally.” The partnership has resulted in an easy-to-navigate WHO mobile website that provides detailed advice for the public, including how to protect yourself and others from Covid-19, myth busters, and how best to look after your physical and mental health. There is also a dedicated section for healthcare workers, which includes advice on the use of masks, the rights and responsibilities of health workers, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Along with up-to-date information and statistics, WHO’s Covid-19 information in Free Basics and Discover, also includes the latest WHO news as well as a selection of questions and answers that address some of the defining issues around Covid-19, including violence against women, pregnancy, childbirth and mass gatherings. The website is being launched in English, with French, Spanish and Arabic to follow; and other languages to be added as they become available.
16 - 23 July 2020
Inner-city Gazette
Residents urged to observe safety precautions in parks
Johannesburg - City Parks sponsibility to prehas said as parks open, vent the spread of so that residents can keep the corona virus rehealthy by exercising near mains in the hands their homes, the onus is on of every park user. them to observe safety pre“The presidency cautions against Covid-19 has heard your call infection. to open up parks, To allow for a phased-in apparticularly for resiproach because of limited redents who do not sources, City Parks said nahave access to space ture reserves, including The to exercise. ResponWilds, Kloofendal, Kliprivsibility therefore to ersberg and the Johannesexercise with cauburg Botanical Gardens will tion, lies in the hands open from 1 August. of every individual. Mandatory requirements Common sense must for park visitors are that they prevail. If you are wear face masks; practise feeling unwell, selfminimum social distancing isolating or if there of three metres; events or are too many park gatherings are not allowed; users, then protect ensure hands are washed your loved ones by and sanitised before enterstaying at home,” ing parks; exercise only with Arnolds said. persons within your houseShe also urged resiMMC Margaret Arnolds hold, limited to five people; dents to carry their refrain from using ablution own sanitiser when facilities and playgrounds; remind children they visit the parks as a safety precaution. that use of the gym and play equipment is City Parks said it had also been affected restricted; take all disposables home, includ- by Covid-19 infections, resulting in some ing empty bottles and paper cups; leave all depots being temporarily closed to enable valuables at home to avoid opportunistic operational and security staff to self-isolate. crime; and abide by existing public spaces “Delayed opening of conservation areas bylaws. and nature reserves is due to scarce resourcJoburg Community Development MMC es and need for employees to be issued with Margaret Arnolds warned residents that re- proper personnel protection.” Arnolds said.
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Inner-city Gazette
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16 - 23 July 2020
‘People should seek assistance immediately if they experience chest pains, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or confusion, as these are signs that oxygen levels are not adequate” Professor Shabir Madhi
Expert advises UJ team develops mechanical on when to get ventilator in Covid-19 fight to a hospital over Covid-19 The UJ engineering team with their 3D printed ventilator
Johannesburg - The University of Johannesburg (UJ) engineering team has developed mechanical ventilators that can provide oxygen to multiple patients. The engineering team uses 3D printing in the production of the equipment. The device, called the Aura Imprimere, meaning a ‘breeze of air’ provided by printing, is about the size of two laptops and can run on batteries for over an hour.
Senior lecturer at UJ’s mechanical engineering sciences department, Dr Nkosinathi Madushele said it basically automates the operation of an ambu-bag, a simple hand-held device used to provide positive pressure ventilation to patients. “The electronic parts of the ventilator are to control how much pressure goes into the patient’s lungs, as well as the controller, which regulates the pressure,” Madushele said.
He added that they were in talks with medical experts to ensure the device could perform under different in-hospital scenarios. “This will be developed by chemical and electrical engineers, so we need technicians’ inputs now,” he said. The team will be making the software and designs freely available, to ensure any producer around the world can manufacture the device.
Woman’s death “disguised as suicide” Katlehong - A 31-year-old woman was allegedly killed by her boyfriend on Friday night. The woman, Thokozile Kubheka died in Extension 16 in what police believe was a cover-up to make it appear as a suicide. Her sister Thande-
ka said her family found out about the death on Saturday night after failing to reach her on the phone. “Before that I had called her to check if she was okay because her neighbour had said she was being beaten by her boyfriend,” she said.
She said on Friday evening she spoke to the boyfriend on the phone, who said they wanted to be left alone to fix their issues. “With some family members we went to their place and found her body in the bedroom with a rope around her neck, and had bruises all over.” Thandeka said the deceased had two children. Her cousin Thulani Jokoto said they will ensure that she gets justice. Police spokesperson Captain Piet Rossouw said the deceased was found with a rope around her neck, with no visible injuries on her body except around the neck. “Further investigations revealed the possibility that the victim could have been strangled and an attempt made to let this look like suicide,” he said.
Johannesburg - Professor Shabir Madhi, who is on the Covid-19 Advisory Council to the Department of Health and heads the vaccine trials, has advised South Africans to immediately seek help if they have chest pains and shortness of breath. “The main symptoms of low oxygen are chest pain and difficulty with breathing; and dizziness follows as one fails to get enough oxygen to the brain,” he said. Madhi added that people should seek assistance immediately if they experience chest pains, shortness of breath, light-headedness or confusion, as these are signs that oxygen levels are not adequate. Rapid breathing is also a sign, he said. “If you are taking more than 20 breaths per minute, then you need to receive oxygen,” he said. He added that between 12% to 14% of those hospitalised around the world lose their lives. Another way to check oxygen levels is with a pulse oximeter, but these are not readily available to the public in South Africa. Said Professor Madhi: “A pulse oximeter is good to have, but is not readily available. It’s a small device that clips onto the finger and measures oxygen saturation levels, and outside of hospitals, one is most likely to see them in an ambulance or a nursing home.” Some may try to measure their
own oxygen with smartphone apps or fitness trackers, but British general practitioner Ann Robinson told The Guardian that there is no evidence that these gadgets are accurate enough for this purpose. In a small percentage of Covid-19 cases, a person can suffer from silent hypoxia, where there is no way of knowing that oxygen levels have dropped to very dangerous levels. This was first reported in Chinese studies but there was no indication of how commonly this occurs. Cases then showed up in Europe and the UK. A letter to the British Journal of Anaesthesia suggests that silent hypoxaemia could result from one’s oxygen and carbon dioxide being low, because if only your oxygen is low, it is high blood carbon dioxide that usually causes breathlessness. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises that if one has minor symptoms, such as a slight cough or a mild fever, there is generally no need to seek medical care. The organisation advises such people to stay at home, monitor their symptoms, and follow national guidance on self-isolation. “People must get medical attention immediately if they have any breathing difficulties or pain or pressure in the chest,” WHO says.
Inner-city Gazette
16 - 23 July 2020
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AU launches consortium for Covid-19 vaccine trial “We want to be sure we don’t find ourselves in the 1996 scenario where HIV drugs were available but it took almost seven years for those drugs to be accessible on the continent”
ACDC director John Nkengasong
Johannesburg - The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) has launched a consortium aimed at securing more than 10 late-stage Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials as early as possible. Africa CDC director John Nkengasong said: “We want to be sure we don’t find ourselves in the 1996 scenario where HIV drugs were available but it took almost seven years for those drugs to be accessible on the continent. With
any Covid-19 vaccine, a delay in Africa of even one year would be catastrophic,” he said. He added that the consortium of African institutions will engage with the GAVI vaccine alliance and others outside the continent amid efforts to ensure that a vaccine is distributed equitably from the start. “And with misinformation around vaccine trials spreading in Africa, the trials would help build community trust,” he added.
A screenshot from the CCTV footage from the shooting
Gunmen shoot security guard Brixton - On Monday a security guard was shot and wounded by armed robbers at a petrol station in Brixton. Police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said the gang had robbed the petrol station. “They took an undisclosed amount of money, car keys and a cellphone. When they went outside, they spotted the security
guard. They ambushed the guard while he was cleaning his company car’s windscreen and disarmed him; and during the altercation, the guard was shot in the leg. He was subsequently taken to hospital,” Masondo said. He added that police traced the gang to Denver and seized the vehicle used in the crime; and two men were taken for questioning.
Last year’s winner Mbangiso Mabaso (second left) with Sne Dladla, MTN manager Zane Oostendorp and Kholofelo Magagane
Call for entrepreneurs to enter app awards Ishani Chetty
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spiring entrepreneurs and digital innovators have been urged to apply for the MTN Business App of the Year Awards; where the winner gets a trip valued at R200 000 to a tech-related destination. The MTN Business App Academy will provide a six-week online coding programme; which feeds into a new category for the app awards, specifically for the developers who went through the academy. MTN Business head of marketing Kholofelo Magagane says the awards eco-system continues to evolve and expand. “It is now a year-long initiative focused on producing the highest calibre of cutting edge and marketready solutions. We are building a future pipeline of digital brilliance to ensure communities can harness benefits of the digital economy and the fourth industrial revolution,” Magagane says. Three of the top apps from the
MTN Business App Academy will be provided mentorship to develop their apps into fully-fledged solutions. In addition ‘a go-to-market strategy’ will be developed to implement the solutions, done by identifying a customer faced with problems the solutions can help solve. “It is encouraging that we will be reaching new audiences and laying foundations for more people in South Africa to benefit. As a champion of app development talent, the awards will uncover and celebrate local impact-makers, and out-ofthe-box tech thinking that drives change,” says Magagane. Developers selected for the academy will participate in a six-week online coding programme. The objective will be to solve a common social challenge facing the country, such as access to education, safety and access to health. In the second phase, selected app developers will take part in a 72-hour hackathon. Participants will have to
use their skills to develop their solution with a team of tutors available to assist. Solutions developed through the hackathon will be entered into the ‘Best Breakthrough Developer’ and ‘Best Youth App’ categories and will be part of the overall awards judging process. The competition will be carried out through a virtual process with more than 1 000 leading app developments and key stakeholders taking part. “I encourage all aspiring innovators to enter and showcase their talent as we develop the ICT industry,” adds Magagane. The overall winner will win a trip to a tech-related destination valued at R200 000. The top three ‘Best Youth App’ entrants will receive a share of R100 000, first place wins R50 000, second place R30 000 and R20 000 for the third-place winner. To enter, app developers can submit their entries before 29 September 2020 on www.appoftheyear.co.za.
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Inner-city Gazette
16 - 23 July 2020
Inner-city Gazette
16 - 23 July 2020
The Arts
Goethe-Institut grant applications open for artistes Busi Nyandeni
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An account of everyday township life is also welcome
Grant scheme to fund writers Samukelisiwe Mfuphi
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he Academic and Non-Fiction Authors’ Association of South Africa, (ANFASA) has announced the next round of the grant scheme to benefit authors of scholarly and nonfiction works. Scholarly works are normally based on research and cover a wide range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and arts. The AGSA scheme encourages young researchers in particular to communicate through the written word and build their academic careers through writing of scholarly monographs. Grants are reserved for books rather than articles, although a compilation of essays would be eligible. A general non-fiction work could be
a biography or an autobiography; a history of a town or a region or a religion; a book about music or sport or theatre; a political or social analysis; an account of everyday life in a township; a book about nursing, or cooking, or fashion, or fishes, or traditional medicines, or cars. Those are just a few of the many supported topics. However, if selected, only ANFASA members may actually receive an award, so if not already a member you are urged to apply through www. anfasa.org.za. The grants provide about R30 000 to be used for an author to take leave, for instance, and devote to writing; or travel to conduct research. It could also be used for equipment to conduct interviews. The grants are for research and writing, and not to cover
publishing costs of manuscripts, although a grant could also be used to cover some editing costs. The selection committee aims to offer awards to a wide-ranging group of authors and subjects. The process will respect the need to treat new and experienced authors equally; to bear in mind authors writing in rural as well as urban locations; and consider authors at all levels of education from the untutored to the degreed. The scheme especially encourages applications from young authors at the start of their careers. Applications for books written in all the official languages will be equally considered. Those interested may visit the site www.anfasa.org.za to apply online or send an e-mail to info@anfasa.org.za.
he Goethe-Institut SA has opened applications for its Goethe-Institut Project Space (GPS) grant. The grant caters for visual arts, performing arts, film, music and more. Applications for the 2021 grants are now open, and close on 17 August 2020. The Goethe-Institut launched the Goethe-Institut Project Space (GPS) grant in 2016, a project space support programme for work realised in any part of South Africa; ranging from workshops to exhibitions, events and performances; in any discipline including visual art, performing arts, film, music or combinations of those. GPS project co-ordinator Samantha Modisenyane said the purpose is to support artistic projects developed, created and managed by arts professionals in partnership with community spaces within South Africa. “GPS awards R60 000 to six successful applicants, selected by a jury consisting of previous GPS grant recipients and other arts professionals working successfully in the local arts industry. The criteria for projects that should apply
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By Prophet Philip Banda
Co-ordinator Samantha Modisenyane
are outlined on the GPS page on the Goethe-Institut South Africa website. People interested in applying should read the information carefully, study projects that were previously funded and apply that to their applications and proposals. At the end of the day, the jury decides and selects projects with a great artistic concept; the connection between the art, space and community where the project happens, and great project management are always considered,” Modisenyane said. For more visit https://www.goethe. de/ins/za/en/kul/sup/gps.html.
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Hope for resumption of African soccer The 2021 Afcon has been set back one year to January/February 2022, and the March and June windows could be used to complete qualifying Sports Reporter
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he Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and World Cup qualifying matches may not be possible this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but there will be sufficient time next year to catch up, according to Fifa. The governing body originally allocated four two-match windows for Africa next year, March, August, September, October and November. It has since added a four-match window next June, raising to 12 the matches teams can play, if safe health conditions exist. Africa needs 12 days to complete qualifying as Afcon requires four and the World Cup eight. Matches planned for March, June, August and September this year were cancelled
due to the Covid-19 pandemic, except in Burundi, where it continued with crowds. There are two-match windows this October and November, but there is doubt on whether African teams will be ready to restart. Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad warns about rushing to resume before the pandemic is contained. “We need to be careful on restarting our qualifying competitions; we dare not send our footballers back into action prematurely,” he said. Ahmad added that Caf would heed the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice and national health departments before any restart decisions are made. “Decisions we make today
regarding the pandemic can be overtaken by tomorrow,” Ahmad said. The 2021 Afcon has been set back one year to January and February 2022, and the March and June windows could be used to complete qualifying. There are 12 groups of four with the winners and runnersup in all but Group F securing places at the finals. Cameroon qualify automatically as hosts, but are in Group F to gain competitive match practice, leaving Cape Verde, Mozambique and Rwanda to fight for one place. If CAF decide to use March and two June match days for the Afcon, World Cup qualifying matches could start in June, and continue in August and September, October and November.
CAF President Ahmad Ahmad