Sowetan April 15 2020

owetan Lockdown Day

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In the know on the move R5.70 (Eswatini, Bots 5.20 incl tax) Wednesday April 15, 2020 www.sowetanlive.co.za

Coronavirus Watch

Cities prepare for mass burials page 6 Ramaphosa pleads for time with liquor traders page 2 Solidarity Fund will be graft-proof page 4

MEC for health Bandile Masuku visits the Johannesburg Expo Centre (formerly Nasrec) to inspect it for readiness to accommodate Covid-19 patient overflow from hospitals in Gauteng. CEO Craig Newman said 500 beds will be available immediately but the facility will be able to accommodate up to 4,000. / G A L L O I M A G E S / E R L O M B A R D

Coronavirus Hotline: 0800 029 999 and WhatsApp Line: 060 012 3456

Councillors reject ‘Juju pay cuts’ Limpopo group says Solidarity Fund deductions decreed by EFF leaders are too high and will leave them poor page 3

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Psalms 109:26-27 NCV

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Ramaphosa set to address alcohol ban this week President to meet command council

By Tankiso Makhetha

President Cyril Ramaphosa will only be able to respond on Friday to a letter demanding him to alter regulations banning the sale of alcohol during the lockdown.

The presidency yesterday requested the Gauteng Liquor Forum to hold off on the court case it intends on bringing, pending a meeting with the National Command Council this week.

The letter written by state attorney Arista Wasserman stated: “The National Command Council, the presidency and other relevant parties are meeting again this week, specifically to discuss the details of government’s economic assistance programme. This includes assistance offered to small businesses such as those of your clients, and other measures to mitigate the effects of the lockdown extension.”

Wasserman said they anticipated that the results of the discussions could have an impact in the issues raised by the forum.

Wasserman referred to some of the initiatives that the government put into place to assist small businesses.

Eric Mabuza, the forum’s lawyer, said they reluctantly agreed to the request and said courts should always be deemed as a last resort.

“The presidency said it has a big meeting and asked us to give them until Friday [to respond]. We are pleased that the president has looked at the issues and is prepared to engage us,” Mabuza said.

Thabiso Modise, the forum’s spokesperson, said the government considered their industry as a soft target which made

it easy to ban trading.

“Our people are frustrated because they don’t know what to do. They are spending money that is meant to go towards their businesses because they don’t have a source of income,” Modise said.

“Government is acting as if we are responsible for the decisions made by people who drink. We are just traders making a living.”

The forum represents 20,000 SMEs (Small and

‘‘

We are happy the president has looked at the issues

Medium-sized Enterprises) in Gauteng. Modise said these SMEs include bottle stores, taverns, shebeens and other businesses like spaza shops.

Modise accused the president of failing to understand the needs of his people and that Ramaphosa was not economically affected by the lockdown.

Pertunia Mahlatsi, who runs a tavern in Pimville, Soweto, said the lockdown was necessary and that she did not agree with the call for the government to alter regulations to their benefit. Mahlatsi said she makes R3,000 per week.

“Of course we are losing money and we will struggle to feed our families. In theory, operating on a take away basis would be beneficial to everyone, but we know how South Africans are, it won’t work.

Thabo will want to go to Lebo to drink there, defeating the purpose of social distancing,”

Mahlatsi said.

David Mokoena, who inherited his tavern, said: “We need to survive, we understand that this lockdown was meant to create social distancing, but our business does not condone gatherings.”

Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use CEO Ingrid Louw said the liquor industry’s manufacturing operations and capital expenditure were responsible for an estimated R94.2bn (or 4.4%) of SA’s gross domestic product.

“The industry’s GDP multiplier is estimated at 2.08 – which means that for every R1.00 in sales revenue generated by the liquor industry, R2.08 is added to the country’s GDP,” Louw said.

Police minister Bheki Cele said the unavailability of alcohol during the lockdown has yielded a reduction in some categories of crime.

Restaurants and taverns in Vilakazi Street in Soweto are empty due to national lockdown to curb coronavirus. / A N T O N I O M U C H A V E

China gives PPE gear to fight virus Health MEC hopes death toll will be limited in SA

By Iavan Pijoos

Twitter@sowetanlive

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Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku remains hopeful the country will overcome the Covid-19 pandemic with limited casualties.

“We believe we can overcome, and will overcome with not many casualties,” Masuku said during the handover of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Sandton yesterday.

The Bank of China donated 30,000 PPE units to the department to boost the fight against the coronavirus.

“We are hoping this equipment will add to what we are already busy with in terms of procuring and creating enough stock for our healthcare workers,” Masuku said. “We are very appreciative of this gesture. We hope to get more and to share insights about how we deal with and treat patients who have Covid-19.”

Masuku confirmed that a man who had contracted Covid-19 had died at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Aca-

demic Hospital, and said more details would be provided by health minister Zweli Mkhize.

Yesterday, Mkhize announced that the number of cases in the country had increased to 2,415. No new deaths had been recorded, keeping the toll at 27.

The consul-general for the Chinese government Tang Zhongdong said the equipment was donated because SA had supported China when it was fighting the pandemic.

“At the moment South Africa is fighting the spread of the virus and we fully support the country. A friend in need is a

friend indeed,” said Zhongdong.

He denied reports that Africans were being mistreated and forced into quarantine in China.

“We treat the lives of foreigners in China the same as our own people,” he said. Zhongdong said the Chinese government was expected to meet African embassy representatives to resolve the matter.

Masuku said the lockdown extension allowed the health department additional time to contain the virus. He said tests and screening were not a “free for all”, and people had to meet certain criteria to be tested.

■ See Page 7

Sowetan Wednesday April 15 2020

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

‘The amounts they’re asking for are too high’

Councillors unhappy about EFF leader Julius Malema’s decision to dock their salaries. / S A N D I L E N D L O V U

salary of around R25,000. They said the move will drag them into poverty.

According to one of the councillors who spoke on condition of anonymity, a R2,500 party levy that they usually pay has been put on hold. He said life would be more difficult to take care of their families.

“I’m already paying for a bakkie for 6k [R6,000] which is a must have and that 33% is going to finish me. I’m going to be left with nothing. My gross is R25k and take home is about R10k now that 33% is going to take over R7k,” said the councillor.

The councillor added that he received lots of calls from the concerned councillors who became aware of the amount they have to pay for three months.

“Councillors are not refusing to contribute, but the percentage is too high for us. If you raise this issue you will be told it is not our money,” he said.

Sowetan understands that the decision was made by the party’s war council which meets at least once a week after which it was communicated to municipalities.

A letter dated April 10, which Sowetan has seen, sent by the party’s treasurer Om-

phile Maotwe to speakers in municipalities, directs that the monthly party levy be suspended and replaced with the 33% contribution for the next three months.

According to the letter, contribution would be deducted from the gross salaries of councillors by the municipalities and sent to an already existing party levy bank account.

“These monies will then be collected and deposited by the EFF into the Solidarity Fund as a lump sum at the end of each month. This directive is effective immediately and will last for the next three (3) months,” the letter reads.

EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo had not responded to questions by time of going to print.

BE THE CHANGE STOP THE SPREAD COVID-19 GOLDEN RULES SOCIAL DISTANCING

2m

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

UJ VC pledges donation

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin immediately.

Maintain a hygienic home, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Keep physical distance - at least 2 metres from other people.

Stay home except when you need to buy food and medicine.

IF YOU ARE SHOWING THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS SORE THROAT HIGH FEVER DRY COUGH

Marwala says salary cut an easy decision to take

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

SHAKING CHILLS HEADACHES

CALL THE COVID-19 HOTLINE 0800 029 999 OR SEND HI TO 060 012 3456 ON WHATSAPP

WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE LIVES

By Prega Govender

The vice-chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, has become the latest head in the tertiary sector to pledge 33% of his salary to the Covid-19 Solidarity Fund. His counterpart from Rhodes University, Sizwe Mabizela, on Monday announced he would be pledging a third of his salary for three months to the fund.

Their pledges follow President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call on public office bearers and executives of large companies to take a cut in their salaries to support the government’s Covid-19 strategy.

According to UJ’s annual report, Marwala earned R4.9m in 2018, including a merit bonus of R1.1m. In a statement, Marwala said it was “an easy decision to take as the crisis requires leadership and personal sacrifices”.

“The pandemic is, without doubt, a defining global crisis of our time.”

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EFF councillors against 33% contribution

By Peter Ramothwala and Kgothatso Madisa

EFF leader Julius Malema has angered some councilors who expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to dock 33% of their salaries to contribute to the fight against coronavirus.

Some EFF councillors in Limpopo who are opposed to the move said the gesture by the party leadership will set them back financially and effectively make them poor.

In WhatsApp messages, which Sowetan has seen, the councillors said the party was drying up their salaries as they were also made to “buy bakkies” for the red berets.

The councillors asked for their names to be witheld for fear of reprisal.

Malema announced last week that the party had decided to contribute 33% of all its public representative salaries to the government’s Solidarity Fund for the next three months.

This affects the party’s members of parliament, provincial legislature and its 827 councillors in 221 municipal councils.

But a group of EFF councillors from a local municipality in Limpopo are revolting against the decision, saying they were not consulted before an announcement was made publicly.

In the WhatsApp messages, some of them said they would be raising their concerns with the party as they believe “this matter must be debated” as they were not consulted.

“It’s going to be rough, you see this guy [Malema] wants us to pay to his account for three months,” said one councillor.

Another councillor wrote, “just imagine you go home with a net salary of R12,000 then deduction of R8,000 for [the] bakkie then you [are] left with R4,000 for other deductions [and then] you [are] left with nothing.”

Another message read: “R4,000 then car must also be paid? Other deductions [as well] then is a crs [serious] disaster. I don’t know even how much is gonna be.

Many councillors are crying, calling me. I can’t do anything”.

The EFF councillors in the local municipality in question said they earn a gross

News

Large-scale screening and testing across Gauteng

The Gauteng Government is conducting large scale screening and testing across the five regions of the province, focusing on vulnerable communities in densely populated areas. Health professionals assisted by 8500 trained Community Health Workers will conduct door-to-door household screening for symptoms and refer symptomatic people for testing.

COVID-19 SCREENING PROCESS Health professionals will ask questions and take your temperature.

University of Johannesburg vicechancellor Tshilidzi Marwala / M A S I L O S I He said for the virus to ultimately abate and pass, and for the situation to improve, leadership and personal sacrifices were required. “It is in this context that I pledge a third of my salary to the Covid-19 relief fund,” he said.

If you show any symptoms you will be referred for testing at your local clinic.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Call the COVID-19 Hotline: 0800 029 999 Web: www.sacoronavirus.co.za Send ‘hi’ on Whatsapp to COVID-19 | Connect: 060 012 3456

If you test positive, the health professional will advise on appropriate medical management.

Use the MPILO APP and answer questions for self screening.

(Download at App store or at Google Play Store) GautengProvince |

GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

If you test negative.... continue to observe the COVID-19 golden rules.

Gauteng Provincial Government |

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4 News

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

Donations stream in for Solidarity Fund

Cops block returning mine workers

Accountability measures in place

Implats had asked some employees to return to work

By Isaac Mahlangu

As donations stream in to boost the Solidarity Fund’s relief coffers, its acting chief executive Nomkhitha Nqweni said stringent accountability measures had been put in place to ensure there was no abuse of money.

Three weeks into operation, the fund has received more than R2bn in donations. It expects further injections from President Cyril Ramaphosa, his cabinet ministers and provincial premiers who pledged a third of their salaries for the next three months.

The EFF, other business leaders and academics have followed suit, donating a portion of their income to help fight Covid-19.

The R2.2bn reflected what the fund has already received while other pledges made by prominent families such as the Motsepes, Ruperts and Oppenheimers are still subject to negotiations. The Rupert family wants their R1bn pledge to go towards assisting SMMEs which is something that falls outside the mandate of the fund.

Sowetan has learnt that there’s ongoing engagement between the Motsepe and Oppenheimer families, with the latter seeking to create their own fund while still committing to contribute something towards the Solidarity Fund.

In an interview, Nqweni said the fund would report and make public all donations and payments from the fund on an ongoing basis for transparency. “As a custodian of donations from many organisations and individuals, the Solidarity Fund is committed to transparency... the board will operate with high standards of cor-

porate governance From large corporates to medium-sized businesses and members of the public, [they] have responded generously despite uncertainty around the economic outlook,” Nqweni said.

The 11-member board has since established sub-committees which would specifically deal with fund-raising, distribution and risk and audit.

Nqweni said the fund has already hit the ground running to buy 200 much-needed ventilators and also approved a R100m facility to procure 6.5m surgical masks for frontline healthcare workers.

Last week, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) hauled government before the labour court in Johannesburg over the issue of lack of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers on duty.

The union, one of the biggest in the public sector, had argued that working had

become a serious risk for health workers in various parts of the country as they have to handle patients without all the required protective equipment.

Nqweni said ventilators and masks had been identified as urgent needs to stop the spread of the coronavirus and supporting fellow citizens during this time. Nqweni said an announcement would be made soon on some of their work “with other partners on humanitarian relief efforts”.

“Our resources will be carefully targeted at high-impact procurement where government is not able to act with the speed required, or on critical products and services that fall outside the capacity of the state,” Nqweni said.

She also explained that the fund’s mandate didn’t however include providing relief to businesses. “There are other private and public sector initiatives who have been ear-

By Zingisa Mvumvu

Nomkhita Nqweni / S U P P L I E D marked to assist businesses at this time,” Nqweni said.

The fund’s work is overseen by a board which is chaired by businesswoman Gloria Serobe, with Adi Enthoven as the deputy chairperson. Other members include Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, Sizwe Nxasana and ministers Tito Mboweni and Ebrahim Patel among others.

Financial firms EY and ENS Africa have, on a pro bono basis, developed a governance framework that will guide the allocation of all funds.

Door-to-door screening for people who may have contacted the Covid-19 virus started in the Western Cape, with screening and testing teams moving into suburbs. / J A C O M A R A I S / G A L L O I M A G E S

Deal to repatriate SA citizens from Egypt hits a snag Plans to arrange a flight fail to work

By Ernest Mabuza

Hopes that South Africans stranded in Egypt as a result of the national lockdown would return to SA yesterday were dashed after plans to arrange a flight for their repatriation did not materialise.

Last Wednesday‚ the department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco) sent a message to about 42 South Africans in Egypt informing them that it was planning to

enter into negotiations with one airline in SA to help with their evacuation.

However‚ this would only be possible if they made a commitment to pay between R7‚000 and R10‚000 per person‚ the embassy said.

Embassy staff were at pains to point out that this communication should not be interpreted as if the plan was a “done deal” as negotiations were in process. The flight to SA was planned for yesterday.

However‚ the situation changed on Saturday when the embassy in Egypt sent another message to the stranded

South Africans informing them that arrangements for their departure would change.

“It is something beyond the control of Dirco HQ. The new snag is related to SAA’s flight route rights and landing allocations. What Dirco is now working on is the option of a chartered flight to pick up the stranded passengers in Egypt and take them to the next neighbouring country where SAA does not face the same limitations‚” the message read.

The message said in terms of the earlier arrangement‚ South Africans in Egypt were going to be joined in Cairo by

other South Africans brought in by charter from neighbouring countries.

“Cairo was meant to be the hub for all of them. The implication of this latest development is that the departure on April 14 is no longer feasible...

“One thing we should not discount is that the Egyptian government might still impose a more stringent lockdown which will prevent movement between cities.

“They must rest assured that Dirco is doing everything possible to expedite the process of their departure,” the message read.

The request by Impala Platinum (Implats) for some employees to return to work yesterday was disrupted by roadblocks, preventing workers from reaching the mine.

The company issued a notice to employees on Sunday to return to work during the lockdown, saying it had been granted an exemption by the department of mineral resources and energy.

But “many” workers could not get to work after being turned back at roadblocks, Implats spokesperson Johan Theron said yesterday.

The company said it had carried the costs for employees in remote areas to return to work. Only those staying close to the mine were asked to make their own arrangements to get to work.

“We have only recalled some employees over and above essential services people already at work,” said Theron.

“Regrettably, many of our employees, including essential services people, have not been able to report to work today [Tuesday] as they were stopped by the police who blocked off the mine with extensive roadblocks.”

Theron could not say how many staff were requested to return to work, where they were travelling from or if they were returning from outside SA’s borders.

In a notice sent to employees on Sunday the company said: “Permission was granted from the department of mineral resources and energy to ramp up operations. “As such employees are required to travel from their homes to Impala Rustenburg to report for duty from Tuesday, April 14 2020.

“This requires that employees may travel between provinces towards the North West province, where Impala Rustenburg is situated. All travelling Impala Rustenburg employees will carry their Impala clock card to identify themselves as employees.”

The company said it had taken the necessary precautions to protect returning staff from contracting the coronavirus. Theron emphasised that the request did not involve all employees or mean production would resume immediately as the company was focused on the safety of workers more than profit.

He said the mine was aiming for a safe and orderly return to work for all once the lockdown was lifted.

Page 5 — 15 April 2020 — Sowetan

6 News

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

Metros ready for Covid-19 mass burials Cemeteries, crematoria prepare for pandemic

By Jeff Wicks

As SA’s Covid-19 death toll rose to nearly 30 – with health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize still warning about a calm before the storm – municipalities are preparing emergency cemeteries and even mulling the possibility of mass burials should the body count climb.

The pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people across the world and roiled the global economy, with SA now in the middle of a public health crisis.

While the rate of infection appears to have been stayed by a national lockdown and screening and testing initiatives – which are set to be ramped up – city officials in Johannesburg, Cape Town and

Durban are preparing for the worst.

The three metros are at this stage the hardest hit in SA. Cape Town mayoral committee member for community services & health Zahid Badroodien said several contingency measures had been considered, among them mass graves.

“According to projections provided by provincial health, which are informed by global trends, the city has recognised the possible need for mass burials. “[The city] has done preliminary identification of cemeteries with the highest value of available space which is ready and can accommodate such high numbers,” he said.

Badroodien said a process was also under way to earmark cemeteries that could be extended “for the specific purposes of Covid-19 burials”.

Moreover, should the death toll soar, the city would impose weekday time slots to accommodate the potential demand.

Cemeteries and crematoria are prepared for the possibility of an increase in demand for mass burials due to the Covid-19 pandemic. / A F P / G U I L L E M S A R T O R I O The US is now the global epicentre for the coronavirus, with nearly 500,000 confirmed infections and 18,600 dead.

In New York, overwhelmed officials were using mass graves to dispose of the dead, the BBC reported. eThekwini municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the city had taken a multifaceted approach, including recycling graves at 66 cemeteries while trying to extend their boundaries.

“Another thing we are looking at is the Cemeteries Land Acquisition report which is to be tabled at the Exco [executive committee] meeting for adoption as soon as possible,” he said.

Mayisela said the report had identified pockets of land the city would consider for new cemeteries.

On mass graves, he added the municipality may use “emergency laws” to fasttrack the acquisition of land.

“This will provide reasonable alternatives for rapid decision-making,” he said.

Those decisions were inevitable, said the SA Cemeteries Association, who urged municipalities to plan for the worst.

“Even without the threat of the virus and the impending catastrophe, SA cities are currently challenged with the disposal of remains, be it in the provision of burial space or cremating our loved ones,” a statement read.

“This will prove to be a serious challenge as SA is poorly equipped for cremations, the recommended method by authorities, locally and internationally, for

managing the treatment of corpses infected with the virus.”

It was estimated, it said, that there were less than 100 crematoria available in the country, which would be insufficient for the anticipated demand.

“Many of these facilities are currently overburdened and in frequent need of repair,” the body said.

“Municipalities need to identify available graves in advance for ideally burying a body in a single grave as opposed to a communal or mass grave. If it is logistically difficult to bury large numbers in single graves, then communal or mass graves need to be prepared,” it warned.

In Johannesburg, mayoral committee member Margaret Arnolds said cemeteries and crematoria were prepared for the possibility of an increase in demand for mass burials relative to the Covid-19 pandemic.

SA cities are currently challenged with the disposal of remains

SA’s interest rates at their lowest in history Reserve Bank reacts to looming recession

By Karl Gernetzky

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates by one percentage point for the second time in just less than a month, bringing the repo rate down to 4.25%. The 100basis-point (bps) cut announced yesterday follows a 100bps cut on March 19.

In January, the Bank cut interest rates by 25bps. SA’s interest rates are now at their lowest in history, and come amid a wave of global central bank cutting in an attempt to offset the economic damage

from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move follows an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday that SA’s 21-day lockdown has been extended until the end of April. The cut is clearly a response to the extension of the lockdown, and the depth of SA’s impending recession is likely worrying the Central Bank, said Capital Economics chief emerging-markets economist William Jackson in a note. “The government will undoubtedly have to do more to support households and companies facing a dramatic loss of income,” said Jackson. “But, with poor public finances likely to constrain the size of the response, monetary policy will have to do more of the heavy lifting.”

Sowetan Wednesday April 15 2020

News

SA students on streets in China appeal for help Africans accused of spreading Covid-19

By Yoliswa Sobuwa

A group of SA students living in China say they fear for their lives after alleged xenophobic attacks directed at Africans.

A student in the city of Guangzhou, who spoke to Sowetan on condition of anonymity, said this week they were forced to sleep under bridges as some Chinese people accused Africans of being responsible for the spread of Covid-19.

“The situation is bad here, we don’t know what to expect as there is a belief that we are the ones who are spreading Covid-19. We can’t even communicate with our families because our Wechat accounts are being checked,” he said.

“Some students who spoke to journalists were arrested for spreading information that is not supposed to be for public scrutiny. Remember, this is a communist state; they don’t have freedom of speech here.”

The student said after being on lockdown for three months, he was denied entry at the local gym and met with a notice written “because of overseas epidemic threshold, foreign friends will not be abled (sic) to exercise in fitness club provisionally. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.”

He said they told him that they can’t allow him inside because “I am black and this is something we have been experiencing a lot this side”.

Another notice he shared with Sowetan dated March 21 2020, written in both Chinese and English, read: “Dear members, Now we are informed by the government that an order to effectively deal with the spread of the current coronavirus epidemic and strictly prevent the import of the epidemic from abroad, foreigners are temporarily not allowed to enter the gym for exercise according to the actual situation of the gym. Please forgive the inconvenience caused to you.”

A parent from Qwa Qwa, Free State, whose child left in December for an internship in mechatronics at Nanjing Institution of Industry Technology, sent a panicked message to a local councillor, Moeketsi Lebesa. The message read: “The situation is bad that side because of xenophobic attacks on Africans who are accused of bringing coronavirus. My child told me that they have been kicked out of their residences and had to sleep out in the streets. They are panicking and don’t know what to do.”

Lebesa said: “She came to me for intervention and I called the person who was responsible for the students who were in China. Apparently, some have been sleeping out in the streets for days.”

Free State premier’s office spokesperson Setjhaba Maphalla said the office was able to get in touch with Merseta who was responsible for the students for expeditious intervention. We are thankful the matter has been resolved.”

International relations spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele said the department’s priority was overseas students kicked out of their residential places. “I have a meeting with a Chinese delegation. I will find out as to what happened to our students who are that side.”

Africans studying in China allegedly experience xenophobic incidents over Covid-19. / A F P / H E C T O R R E T A M A L

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Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

‘Revive school feeding scheme’ NGOs call on education department to provide food for pupils again

By Shonisani Tshikalange

Activists and education and children’s rights organisations have called for basic education minister Angie Motshekga to revive the schools feeding scheme as lockdown regulations affect the welfare of millions of children who rely on these meals.

Equal Education, the Equal Education Law Centre, The Children’s Institute, Section27 and the Centre for Child Law wrote an open letter to Motshekga asking that schools – closed under the lockdown – be permitted to serve as collection points for food packages or pick-up-and-go meals tailored for beneficiaries of the feeding scheme.

The organisations said the department’s response to concerns about access to meals was “disappointing”, considering the crucial role played by school meals in the wellbeing and development of children.

“With the president announcing the extension of the

lockdown until the end of April, a pressing need is ensuring that learners have continued access to critical nutrition provisioning.

“Nine-million children ordinarily benefit from the scheme. For many of these learners, the meal received at schools is often the only meal in the day,” the letter read.

Hunger and malnutrition were raised as serious concerns, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, as both resulted in compromised levels of immunity.

“It is, therefore, necessary to put in place clear and co-ordinated interventions which ensure children continue to receive the benefit of school meals. The [department] must play a central role in this, and cannot defer its responsibilities to other departments indefinitely,” said the letter.

The organisations raised concerns about food distribution centres not being adequately accessible to those in need, particularly in rural areas.

A girl receives a meal at her school on the first day of the Western Cape education department’s Covid-19 feeding scheme. The scheme has not been operating since the closure of schools. / F A C E B O O K / A L A N W I N D E “It is also unclear what safety measures are being put in place to protect children who may be in a position of having to collect

Cops fire at hungry residents

food parcels themselves.”

The letter recommended that district level co-ordination be implemented to enable

pupils not living in the same area as their closest schools to be able to access food packages or meals.

Hands off food parcels,

politicians warned Councillors won’t distribute

By Ernest Mabuza

Residents of Setjwetla in Alex. / T H U L A N I M B E L E

Crowd forms after food parcel rumour

By Thulani Mbele

Police fired rubber bullets yesterday to disperse residents of Setjwetla in Alexandra who had gathered near Marlboro Gardens Secondary School waiting for food parcels.

The group of about 300 people said a delivery of food parcels on Saturday ran short.

Residents said those who did not receive parcels were told to come back but after waiting for a while on Monday, were then told to come back the next day.

However, the SAPS together with Joburg metro police officers ordered the agitated residents to go home as there were no food parcels to give them.

They reluctantly walked

back to the informal settlement but later formed large groups to discuss their frustration.

Police then used rubber bullets to disperse them, accusing the crowd of being in an illegal gathering as per lockdown regulations and social distancing.

Bongani Maluleke, 44, an unemployed father of four said: “I don’t know why they are shooting at us, we are peacefully waiting for food.

We were told by our councillor to come and receive food. We were here yesterday and were told to come back today. I’m a contract worker and last worked in November; it has been very difficult to survive during this lockdown.”

Another resident, Goodwill Gondwe, 29, who arrived in SA in 2014 from Malawi, said he was running out of food and had only fast-depleting

packet of maize meal.

Gondwe, who makes a living as a gardener, said: “No one works here, it’s better government gives us food or people are going to die. We can’t just sit at home and starve; if people are handing out food we will try to go get that food. It is wrong that the police are shooting at us. As it is, I hear people talking about looting spaza shops.

“We were looking forward to going back to work this Friday but the president has extended the lockdown. It’s unfair on us, we are hungry,” he said.

Local councillor Lee Ibrahim said residents were not promised food parcels.

“A family acting on goodwill decided to hand out food parcels to residents on Saturday, and the crowd escalated.

Word spread that people should come today, which is not true.”

The beneficiaries of food supplied by the government during the Covid-19 lockdown were not identified arbitrarily but according to existing criteria based on need, Gauteng premier David Makhura said yesterday.

Makhura said this during the official opening of Ekurhuleni’s central food bank in Springs. The food bank has received donations, mainly of food and sanitisers, from businesses in the area, and these donations will be distributed through a wardbased system to the poor during the lockdown.

Makhura said councillors will not be involved in the distribution of food, but will help to identify families in need.

“We want to remove politicians from the food-distribu-

They say food is given along political lines

tion system. In Tshwane, there were accusations that food was distributed along political lines.”

Makhura said the government had distributed food parcels – said to last for a month – to 72,000 households since the start of the lockdown on March 27. Food parcels were distributed to 2,000 households in the province every day, Makhura said.

He said food supply to the poor was an important weapon in the fight against the spread of Covid-19.

The premier said that in Gauteng, about 20% of the population, or three million people, were food insecure, meaning they were guaranteed food for only four to five days in a week. Makhura said the list of the indigent in the province included assessments by social workers.

“The list is not informed by political patronage. It is based on need.”

Makhura said in the past two weeks, Gauteng was receiving requests from more people who used to work, either for themselves or via casual jobs.

Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina said apart from helping indigents registered with the municipality, they will also consider requests via the provincial hotline.

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10 Motoring

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

Motoring Sowetan

Wednesday April 15 2020

THE WEEK THAT WAS

The Solidarity e-Race series at Kyalami circuit

BRENWIN NAIDU

@NBrenwin

Five happenings in a world under lockdown 1. Race in peace Motorsport legend Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss died on April 12 aged 90. In his heyday, Moss was reported to have entered up to 54 events a year around the world. He won 16 Formula One grand prix races in the 1950s and early 1960s, was four times a championship runner-up, and third overall on three occasions – but never clinched the title of championship winner. His professional career ended after an accident at Goodwood in 1962 left him unconscious for a month and paralysed for six. In 2010 he survived a plunge down a lift shaft, breaking both ankles and four bones.

2. Battle armour Ford SA began production of protective face

Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss

Ford SA makes face shields

shields at its plant in Silverton, Tshwane. The shields will be donated to frontline medical and essential services personnel who are most at risk of contracting Covid-19. The company is aiming to ramp production up to 500,000 units and has called on suppliers and business partners for support.

3. Solidarity in motorsport The Solidarity e-Race series currently underway is seeing participants battling it out at Kyalami circuit on the Assetto Corsa Competizione digital simulator. The grand finale of the virtual racing event is set to take place at 7pm tonight. Proceeds from registration go to the Solidarity Fund, launched to assist small and medium businesses which are facing

Isuzu assists FoodForward SA

challenging times under lockdown.

4. Trucking for good Isuzu availed four trucks to assist FoodForward SA, a non-profit organisation that distributes food supplies to impoverished communities.

The fleet was used to deliver stocks from the FoodForward head office in Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth, where growing demand drastically reduced levels earlier than anticipated. With a presence in six provinces, FoodForward SA teams are currently on the road, delivering essentials to the needy across the country. To assist with donations, contact 021-531-5670 or search for them online.

JLR and Dlamini step up

5. Feeding the nation Jaguar Land Rover SA and the Minnie Dlamini Foundation joined forces to help feed orphans and elderly around the country who may not have access to regular meals during the lockdown.

Through its partnership with Land Rover, the South African Red Cross will now use Land Rover vehicles to distribute food parcels and continue to educate communities about the coronavirus. The non-profit #FeedingSATogether initiative has already seen the delivery of food packs to the Khyalethu School near Knysna.

A further 200 packs have been distributed to orphanages and old age homes in Soweto, Daveyton, Germiston, Brakpan and Benoni.

Bubble, bubble, oil and trouble CONSUMER CLINIC with BRENWIN NAIDU @naidub@ignitionlive.co.za

Battle with issue-fraught Audi has positive outcome, eventually…

When KwaZulu-Natal resident Dane Temlett took delivery of an Audi RS3 (8P) in July 2018, he expected two things.

Firstly, spirited performance, followed by mighty acoustics courtesy of its signature five-cylinder power source.

What he received instead was a vehicle with significant underlying engine issues — warranting repair work at a cost that eclipsed the value of the car.

He purchased the 2012 model with 60,000km from an authorised dealership,

Evidence of welding

An RS3 like Temlett’s

Audi Centre Durban, a decision he believed would offer peace of mind over its history. In addition, a one-year remainder of its Freeway Plan maintenance agreement had been in effect, which he extended for an additional year at the cost of R20,000. Money well spent, considering what was to come.

Issues began even before the car was in his possession. On the day he arrived at the dealership to pay his deposit and sign docu-

mentation, he was told the RS3 was not yet ready, as certain parts were being awaited.

“So [I was] disappointed, however satisfied I got a courtesy car.”

Two weeks later, he collected the vehicle.

But it had yet to be licensed: a service included under the label of “on the road” fees. He took the vehicle with temporary registration papers that, when expired 21 days later, resulted in him receiving a R1,000 fine.

He called the dealership. “I was told fines from my side were holding up the issuing of the vehicle’s license in my name.”

He paid the fines and called the dealership again — who told him the disc would still not be issued. Three days later, the matter was resolved. By this time Temlett already felt a sense of unease. “I feel like I [had] been lied to the whole time, hearing excuse after excuse.” It was only the beginning.

He found niggles he believes ought to have been detected during the 80-point check promised by the dealership. The vehicle was booked into Audi Centre Durban to address his concerns, among which was the gearbox. He had also asked for a printout of the service history, which was denied.

“I seem to recall they flushed it with new oil, a week later it was still the same, so to cut a long, sorry short it was replaced under maintenance plan, by this time, I also noticed Continued on Page 11

Motoring 11

Sowetan Wednesday April 15 2020

CAR CLINIC with GERRIT BURGER

How to keep the wheels turning on a parked car

F

or weeks on end now the family chariot has been looking at you quizzically each time you walk past. What’s going on? When are we going for a decent spin again? Well, it seems there’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, so perhaps we can turn our thoughts to the happy day when we will be rolling once more.

Being laid up is never good for a car, but if it’s only for a short while, as will hopefully be the case in the present time of stricture, not much harm can come of it. If it’s for longer periods — more than three months, say — special measures are required to limit the detriment, as we will discuss below. The main items of concern after a relatively short spell of inactivity are:

tor can recharge the battery. Do this outside to avoid carbon monoxide build-up. Never leave the car unattended with the engine running.

The tyres Tyres slowly lose pressure, even when stationary. Check tyre pressure before going back on the road, or as soon as possible.

The battery A battery in good condition, fully charged at the outset, should remain serviceable for two weeks. The ideal is to put it on a mains-powered “smart” charger that will keep it charged without overcharging it. But smart chargers are expensive, so for periods of longer than two weeks, or in the case of a battery that was on shaky legs to begin with, it is advisable to start the engine at least once every fortnight, and let it run at a fast idle for a minimum of 15 minutes so that the alterna-

The brakes If the handbrake was applied when the car was parked, and especially in damp conditions, it’s possible that the brakes can seize.

To prevent this, release the handbrake and roll the car back and forth a few times during the battery charging operations.

When setting out on your first trip after the interlude, make sure to use the brakes (gently) during the first few kilometres to clean off any corrosion that may have formed.

The engine oil If an engine hasn’t run for a couple of weeks, the oil will have drained away from bearings and the valvetrain. Although high-quality oil should cope with this situation, it can do no harm to disable the ignition (on a petrolengine car) and crank the engine on the starter motor for a few bursts of 10 seconds at a time, to pump some oil where it’s needed.

The only caveat here is that on modern cars with electronic engine control, disabling the ignition is fraught with danger. Unless

you are sure what to do, rather leave it alone.

For longer periods of storage, it’s recommended that you fill the fuel tank before laying up the vehicle. This will minimise the volume of air in the tank, hence the amount of condensation of water vapour in the air.

Water in the fuel tank is bad news.

Remember the most serious concern during lengthy storage is corrosion of the bodywork.

Ensure adequate ventilation is provided, and that the car is put away dry after having been given a wash and polish. Put the vehicle on supporting stands to lift the tyres off the ground and rotate the wheels periodically to spread the bearing grease. This is important for caravans and trailers used seasonally too.

Battle with issue-fraught Audi has positive outcome Continued from Page 10 the vehicle was using a high amount of engine oil.”

He called Audi Centre Durban again. He was advised to take the RS3 to Pinetown instead, as it was closer to where he lived.

According to Temlett, the service adviser at Audi Centre Pinetown “almost fell off her chair,” after calling up the service history he had asked for. It was a three-page document.

Included on the list was proof that Audi Centre Durban had replaced the pistons in the engine in 2015, among numerous other jobs.

“None of this was disclosed to me. according to the [report] R477,000 of warranty repair work had been undertaken at that time.”

He decided to escalate his grievances with the customer relations department at Audi SA, which contacted Audi Centre Durban and arranged a meeting with Temlett and the used car sales manager. Temlett proposed: either return and be refunded for the vehicle, or have an additional year of Freeway Plan at the expense of the dealership”.

The sales manager said he would look into it but left the employ of the dealership.

“Still trying to get to the bottom of this car and what Audi Centre Durban [was] prepared to do, I continued on the repair path with Audi Centre Pinetown, where they

[were] now checking the oil consumption.

“After much back and forth with the factory in Germany, Audi Pinetown were advised to replace the engine block along with another set of pistons.”

This rendered the vehicle out of commission for eight months, during which time Temlett was provided with a courtesy car.

In November 2019 he received the RS3.

His woes were not yet over. An oil leak would lead to a startling revelation: the head that houses the valvetrain, bolted atop the engine block, had been welded. He surmised, “some technician [had] obviously damaged the head previously and instead of replacing it, which would have had to been paid for by the dealership, they welded it to save costs”.

“This weld repair goes completely against factory standards and the vehicle was still under the maintenance plan.”

According to Temlett, the discovery led to more back and forth between Audi Centre Durban and Audi Centre Pinetown, with both parties blaming the other.

By February 2020, he said he was “stuck between the two, with the car leaking oil in my driveway if we attempted to drive it”.

At that point, the Freeway Plan had expired, although the work on the engine block still carried a one-year guarantee.

Which meant that until either dealership

The purported cause of the oil leaks

owned up to the fault, he would not be able to take the vehicle to an independent garage, or he would lose the warranty.

At this time he filed a complaint with the Motor Industry Ombudsman of SA (Miosa).

On April 2, Temlett reached out to Sowetan Motoring. First, we approached Miosa. On April 8 we received a response from them stating it “went through the case and there is some information that needs to be obtained in order to assist with the investigation”.

A spokesperson said “a recommendation will not be made” by the time this article would be published.

On April 7 we forwarded the specifics of the case to the communications department at Audi SA. The company responded this week with this statement: “Mr Temlett purchased a pre-owned Audi RS3 at one of Audi South Africa’s franchised dealers and entrusted the Audi dealer network with fixing his vehicle. We regret that the sales and

aftersales interactions had left Mr Temlett frustrated.

His RS3, being an eight-year old model, had numerous ownership changes before being sold to Mr Temlett. Due to the numerous parties involved over the eight-year period, it had been difficult for our dealer partners to pinpoint the exact origin of, and responsibility for, the problem ... Audi South Africa’s dealers are each independently owned and managed, this had caused the resultant delay. As a collaborative effort to resolve Mr Temlett’s unfortunate situation, Audi SA and our dealer partners involved will work together to repair the issue addressed

by Mr Temlett, as a gesture of goodwill.”

Temlett said: “It’s a pity one has to go to these lengths to get any type of recourse. I hope Audi SA can take something away from this so future customers don’t have the same experience, especially on a vehicle that has been fully maintained by the dealers.”

12 News

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

Actor ‘Big Boy’ a man of many talents, including design Maja had big heart and smile

By Emmanuel Tjiya

Late actor Charles Maja was the best father in the world – both his real-life daughter Molagare and on-screen son Thabo Mkhabela agree.

Renowned for his muchloved character Big Boy on SABC1 soapie Skeem Saam, Maja died on Thursday at the age of 53 after a short illness.

He is survived by his wife Mamopudi as well as three children – Mahlatse, 27, Molagare, 25, and Mapula, 23.

Maja had two grandchildren Sheila and Malesela – named after him.

“He loved wholeheartedly.

He was very straightforward and if he didn’t like something he will tell you immediately,” Molagare said.

“There was never a dull moment at home with him around. We were always laughing at home because he was full of jokes. I have never seen him angry. I will remember his great smile above all.”

While his Skeem Saam character Big Boy battled alcoholism, in real life Maja didn’t drink.

Molagare said she will miss the pranks that her father used to play on them. One trick that Maja recently played on his family was when he came back home pretending to be drunk. Molagare said it was after that joke that she was convinced her father was a good actor.

“He liked to go chill at our local tavern even though he didn’t drink. This one day he came back home and started to act drunk,” Molagare recalled “It was the first time that I had seen him in that state and I was shocked. I was convinced that he was drunk, even though my mother insisted he was acting.

“He went as far as to get a beer bottle and was tripping all over himself. He laughed loudly at our shock.”

‘‘

We always laughed at home as he was full of jokes

Molagare said although many South Africans knew her father as an actor he was much more than that. Maja was a tailor too and designed clothing for his family when they went to special events. He also designed sofas.

Maja was also a singer and formed a choir group made of his peers called Kopermyn

City Boys – he was inspired by his favourite band Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Aside from his acting role in Skeem Saam, Maja also acted in many Thobela FM radio dramas – most noticeably as Bra Tick in Mahlakung.

Molagare said when he landed the role of Big Boy on Skeem Saam it was a dream come true for the family. She was in grade 11 at the time.

“I thought finally my family was going to move out of the village. But my father loved his village life. He had a lot of livestock, grew his own vegetables and he loved the space.”

Mkhabela, who played Maja’s on-screen son Leshole, said he learnt a lot from him.

“The role he played in bettering my Pedi, craft, emotions

and attitude was amazing,” Mkhabela said.

“Together, we told stories that reflected our day-to-day poverty stricken families. The advice he gave me in each scene, the interpretation we would share of every scene before we shoot and the comedic sense he added in every scene were legendary.”

Maja was rushed to hospital after he fell ill while out to buy essentials. He was admitted for a week before he died. Molagare never had a chance to visit him in hospital because of the national lockdown restrictions.

“I spoke to him a day before he died and he was in good spirits,” Molagare said.

Maja will be buried on Saturday in his home village of GaMaja near Lebowakgomo.

Charles Maja loved to chill out at the local tavern although he did not drink alcobol. / S U P P L I E D

Mina Nawe mourns lead songstress ‘Mazet’ Tributes pour in from all over country

By Chrizelda Kekana

The SA entertainment industry suffered yet another loss of talent over the long weekend when veteran Afro-pop music group Mina Nawe announced the death of their lead songstress Zanele “Mazet” Maseko.

Although information surrounding the cause of death is yet to be released, the group confirmed Zanele’s death on their social media platforms on Sunday.

“It is with shattered hearts

we announce that we’ve lost a big part of who we are as a band and family.

Our songstress Zanele ‘Mazet’ Maseko passed away this morning,” the brief message stated.

Mina Nawe asked the country to hold the family in prayers and support during this difficult time.

“We humbly ask for your support during this difficult time as we hold hands with her family, friends and colleagues.”

While there were many reports over the years about the group disintegrating, in their prime the groups’ original members – J-luv, Carlo and

Mazet – gave Mzansi many Afro-pop hits.

Mina Nawe was one of the most loved groups in the early 2000s with songs such as Where I wanna be and Le Ngoma Pt. 1.

In 2006, their second album, Njalo, saw them bag the prestigious Best Afro Album Award at the Metro FM Music Awards.

In the same year, the group was nominated for the Best Pop Album at the 12th SA Music Awards.

Tributes poured in from people all over the country who have made great memories to the tunes Mina Nawe gifted to Mzansi.

Lead songstress of Afro-pop group Mina Nawe, Zanele ‘Mazet’ Maseko, has died. / F A C E B O O K

Entertainment 13

Sowetan Wednesday April 15 2020

Your

Your Stars

Tv Guide

What kind of day will tomorrow be? To find out what the stars say, read the forecast given for your birth sign

14:00 till late

Aries March 21 — April 21

SABC1

Enjoy schmoozing with a friend today (perhaps a female).

This is a good day to share your goals and your hopes and dreams for the future with someone to get his or her feedback.

14:00 15:00 15:30 15:45 16:30 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30

Khumbul'ekhaya Degrassi YO.TV Ntunjambili YO.TV Mini Ispani Siswati/Ndebele News Mi Kasi Su Kasi Skeem Saam Xhosa/Zulu News NFVF Youth Films: Hells On Wheels 20:00 Generations: The Legacy 20:30 Uzalo 21:00 Khumbul'ekhaya 22:00 Perfection

Taurus April 21 — May 21 People notice you today; in fact, they might be talking about you. (Perhaps even details about your personal life are made public for some reason.)

Gemini May 21 — June 22 Today you're restless. You want some adventure, something exciting to happen! Stay flexible and be ready to go with the flow.

Cancer June 22 — July 23

SABC2

This is a good day to take some time to clear up loose details about red-tape matters related to debt, inheritances or shared property. Devote 15 minutes to this. (Do yourself a favor!)

14:00 Magnum 15:00 Akili and Me 15:30 Yo.TV Mini - Yo TV Land 15:45 YO.TV Ilitha Lethu 16:00 Disney Cookabout 16:30 Hectic Nine-9 17:00 Naruto 17:30 Venda/Tsonga News 18:00 7de Laan 18:30 Nuus 19:00 Fokus 19:30 The Riviera 20:00 Sesotho/Setswana News 20:30 Ngula Ya Vutivi/Zwa Maramani 20:57 Live Lotto Draw 21:00 Muvhango 21:30 Lithapo 22:00 Health Talk

Leo July 23 — Aug 24 Because the Moon is in a sign that is opposite your sign today, you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others. Be cooperative and accommodating. (No biggie.)

Virgo Aug 24 — Sep 23 You will feel happy if you make an effort to get better organized today. Do something to help you feel that you're more on top of your scene.

Libra Sep 23 — Oct 23 This is a playful, fun-loving day, which means it's a great day to enjoy social outings, sports events and fun activities with kids. Romance will flourish!

Scorpio Oct 23 — Nov 23

SABC3

14:30 Special Assignment 15:00 Hardball

It will please you if you get a chance to cocoon at home today because you need a few moments to catch your breath. You have been working hard to show everyone what you are capable of.

This is a fast-paced day suitable for errands, short trips and conversations with siblings, relatives and neighbors. You have something to say and you want to be heard!

SOWETO TV 14:00 16:00 17:00 17:30

Kasi Vibes Kasi Vibes Babize Bonke Ultimate Sistas Hair Jury

12`3~~4`5``6` ~`~`~~`~`~~`~ 7``````~8```` ~`~`~~9``~~`~ ~`~`~~`~`~~`~ 0```~-`=`q``w `~~`~`~`~`~~` er``t`y`~u`i` ~`~~`~`~~`~`~ ~`~~o``~~`~`~ p````~[`````` ~`~~`~`~~`~`~ ]``````~~\```

Capricorn Dec 22 — Jan 21

Birthdate of:

Pisces Feb 20 — Mar 21 Your focus on money and assets continues. Nevertheless, today you might choose to hide in order to seek out solitude.

14:00 The Wild 14:30 Peppa Pig 14:35 Care Bears: Unlock the Magic 15:00 Barbie: Dreamtopia 15:15 Littlest Pet Shop: A World of our own 15:30 Supa Strikas 15:55 Power Rangers: Ninja Steel 16:20 Judge Judy 16:45 Days of our Lives 17:30 Bittersoet 18:30 news - COVID-19 Update 19:00 Rhythm City 19:30 Scandal!

20:00 e.tv News 20:30 Chicago Fire 21:25 e-Insert 21:30 Imbewu: The Seed 22:00 Kingdom

mosimanem@sowetan.co.za

You have money matters on your mind today. (Perhaps they relate to moneymaking ideas that you have.) Many of you are also spending money on home repairs.

Aquarius Jan 21 — Feb 20

etv

Crossword 3151

Sagittarius Nov 23 — Dec 22

Today the Moon is in your sign, which gives you a bit of extra luck over all the other signs.

Why not test it by asking the universe for a favor?

15:30 Little Lunch 16:00 Hectic On 3 16:30 Judge Faith Jenkins Court Show 17:00 The Backstory 18:00 Top Chef Junior 19:00 Isidingo: The Need 19:30 Ready For Love 20:30 At The Table 21:00 News 21:30 Narcos 22:30 High Rollers

Sadie Sink (Actress)

What to Watch

Generations: The Legacy Lesedi (Luyanda Mzazi) knows she’s being manipulated but gives in anyway. Gog’Flo touches a nerve when she hits the nail on the head. Gadaffi receives shocking news from the police station.

SABC1:20:00

18:00 Soweto Business Line 18:30 News 19:00 Women Arise with Power 19:30 The She Word 20:00 Apostle Simon Mokoena 20:30 News And Views 21:00 Your Late Mate 21:30 Studmuffinz 22:00 Apostle Mohlala

1Magic

14:30 Kids Say The Darndest Things With...

ACROSS 1 Roman myth: god of war (4) 4 Roman myth: god of the sky; king of the Olympian gods (7) 7 Live together as husband and wife (7) 8 Verdant; lush (5) 9 Airborne Support Equipment (3) 10 Adam and Eve’s home (4) 11 Peril (8) 15 Merge (8) 19 Immeasurably long period of time (4) 21 Trinitroutoluene, abbr (3) 22 A horse trained to move at a special gait for racing (5) 23 Cone-shaped (7) 24 Money owed to an employee from an earlier time (4, 3) 25 Yet Another Error Acronym (4)

15:30 The River 16:00 The Talk 17:00 Half & Half 17:30 Half & Half 18:00 Ready To Love 19:00 Project Runway All Stars 20:00 The River 20:30 The Shop 21:00 High Fidelity 21:50 Desus & Mero 22:30 The Real Housewives Of Orange County

DOWN 2 On, in, onto or into a ship,, aircraft, bus, or train (6) 3 Occurring at a certain season of the year (8) 4 Period in the history of aircraft powered by turbine engines (3,3) 5 A crash involving several vehicles (4-2) 6 Envelop, hug (6) 10 Etcetera (3) 11 Journal of Aerospace Science (3) 12 Order of the British Empire (3) 13 Liveliness; briskness (8) 14 Japanese currency (3) 16 Interval of an octave (6) 17 Ensnare (6) 18 Easily remembered tune (5) 20 Interval between two musical notes , one of a higher pitch (6)

Yesterday’s solutions ACROSS 1 Merury 5 Venus 8 Fated 9 Liberty 10 UAL 11 Lance 12 Acari 13 Feign 15 Storm 20 Chair 22 Strut 23 CAL 24 Rethink 25 Upend 26

YOU BORN TODAY You are an optimist who is outgoing and friendly. You are energetic but also kind and gentle. Service to others is your theme this year, especially with family. This means you must take care of yourself so you are a strong resource for yourself and others. Invest in the relationships that you value.

Tap into your personal creativity and hobbies.

Earth 27 Neptune. DOWN 1 Muffle 2 Retinae 3 Undue 4 Yellow 6 Norma 7 Stymie 14 Garnish 16 Parvenu 17 Accrue 18 Kick in 19 Stodge 21 Actor 22 Slump.

Pantsula

Jon Cryer (Actor)

Claire Foy (Actress)

Tomorrow’s Weather Pretoria 11-25

Sifiso Yalo

Johannesburg 10-20

Nelspruit 18-28

Phone: 082 162 www.weathersa.co.za | @SAWeatherservice

Polokwane 16-28

Mafikeng 9-26

Bloemfontein 6-19

Kimberley 6-23

Cape Town 14-19

East London 15-22

Durban 19-23

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

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Stella was led astray by Manana Guys please cut Stella NdabeniAbrahams some slack. The president has already acted against her. I hold no brief for her, it is quite evident that she was led astray by Mduduzi Manana. She is human after all. – Blose Langa

Staying at home saved lives As much as this lockdown has imprisoned us in our homes, the good thing about this is that it has saved many a life which could have perished on the roads during Easter. God bless SA and her people. – Mary Mashaba, Mamelodi

What’s the plan for schools I want to be added to those who commend President Cyril Ramaphosa for effectively managing Covid-19 pandemic. I furthermore want to know what is his plan prior to the reopening of schools regarding this virus. – Chopo

Downgrade was deliberate SA’s downgrade was deliberate to pressurise the country to seek loan from IMF or World Bank with secret conditions attached. Why should there be secrecy? The whole thing will harm economy. – Norman Matsebula, Soweto

Thieves ignore lockdown Thieves never miss an opportunity. They are always looking at how to enrich themselves at the expense of the miseries of the poor. Looting and plunder continue under lockdown meant to save lives. – Anonymous

Sowetan Says

Openness is vital for public trust On Monday evening, South Africans watched as Dr Zweli Mkhize and a team of medical experts advising the government briefed the nation on the fight against Covid-19.

Although not entirely new, the information shared gave insight into what lies ahead in the next months to come and, importantly, what we ought to prepare for practically and in our national psyche.

In sobering detail, renowned epidemiologist Prof Salim Abdool Karim was clear that the virus is here to stay.

“Once we end the lockdown, about 55-million people are vulnerable to this virus. As soon as the opportunity arises for this virus to spread, we are likely to see the exponential curve again,” he said.

Granted, it is not what the nation ideally wants to hear, but it is an uncomfortable truth we must confront.

Perhaps most important to come out on Monday was the scientific rationale behind some of the decisions made by government regarding the length and degree of the lockdown period.

We learnt that through deliberate screening and testing, government ideally wants to drive down the number of new infections to below 44 a day before the lockdown is lifted.

If that number remains between 45 and 89 infections a day, provided there is low community transmissions in high-dense areas, a soft lockdown could be considered where certain restrictions may be eased.

However, if the average infection rate is more than 90, the team advises that the lockdown remains in place to enforce social distancing and promote targeted testing.

“We need a systematic approach to keeping infection rates low while easing the lockdown in stages,” Karim said.

Monday’s briefing was well far and wide.

For many it was reassuring that decisions made by government in this tough time are influenced by scientific data available and the wisdom of those who are experts in the field, rather than the uninformed whims of political elites.

Most crucially, it was a reminder for all that transparency is a powerful prerequisite for public trust and cooperation.

Letters HIV-Aids was as controversial as the coronavirus I wonder if people still remember the Perth Group, a group of Australian scientists and doctors and their stance on HIV and Aids?

They said HIV was never isolated and therefore it didn’t exist. They made compelling arguments.

Harakati published one of their expositions perhaps more than two years ago.

It would be interesting to find out what the Perth Group’s findings are on Sars-CoV-2.

The question many people asked themselves on the findings of the Perth Group was, if these Australian scientists and doctors say the virus that is said to cause Aids hasn’t been isolated and therefore doesn’t exist, what do they mean when people are dying of a disease called Aids.

You see, scientists and doctors of integrity do research and publish their findings: they don’t care about our preconceived ideas.

Aids was a controversial disease from the onset just like Covid-19. For example, Aids changed names three times.

Some scientists and doctors explained the appearance of the Aids disease thus: African people in the middle section of Africa were vaccinated during the World Health Organisation’s smallpox vaccination

Letters to the editor Sowetan, PO Box 6663, Johannesburg, 2000 E-mail letters@sowetan.co.za Fax 011-340-9637

campaigns and began dying of a disease that came to be known as Aids.

Gay people in the US were vaccinated with Hepatitis B vaccine and developed a disease with Aids-like symptoms.

This confirms what some scientists say – that viruses are present in our bodies and can cause disease only if injected into our bodies through vaccinations.

The same thing that the Perth Group revealed about HIV some years back, that HIV hasn’t been isolated, there are scientists and doctors the media don’t want to talk to who say Sars-CoV-2 hasn’t been isolated and therefore doesn’t exist.

It’s clear that what those scientists and doctors say doesn’t gel with the globalists’ agenda that gives them a pretext to effect lockdowns and states of emergency.

I wonder if people are aware that there were no tests conducted in China to confirm what killed people in Wuhan was Covid-19.

There are other scientists who say the testing procedures and statistics are a fiasco.

They are calling out the media for scaring people about the coronavirus as well as questioning governments around the world why they are declaring lockdowns and states of emergency based on unreliable data and testing methods.

The issues I raised in this submission have been banned in the media to show that something is not right.

The flimsy reasons given to effect lockdowns and states of emergency must be challenged.

Sam Ditshego, Kagiso

Ramaphosa stately work on Covid-19 is not unique, but what will the poor eat South Africans never cease to amaze.

We are very skilled at finding a scapegoat every time we have to account and always denying our reality for far-fetched fantasies.

How do you explain the current praise for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who suddenly has become the best leader in the world? At the present moment, SA has been downgraded to junk status.

Truth to tell, this means that Ramaphosa, the billionaire businessman, has failed in the very thing he was elected for, which was to revive the economy and stabilise it.

How unfortunate it is for Ramaphosa and his subjects in the media and business sector to use a tragedy like the coronavirus for PR purposes? Shame on you!

Also, Ramaphosa was not the first leader to order a lockdown. President Donald Trump was severely criticised by the same subjects, as usual the soft target, for closing air travel to and from the US. Actually, almost all the nations on earth are on lockdown.

So, I don’t understand this hullabaloo over Ramaphosa’s stately actions.

Let us get things clear, the reason most people are cooperating with the lockdown is not solidarity or patriotism. The real reason is the fear of being infected and death. The question is what will the poor eat during the lockdown? Let government clarify this one.

Khotso KD Moleko, Mangaung

Sowetan Wednesday April 15 2020

It’s important to hold state accountable for wrongdoing

President Cyril Ramaphosa with minister of human settlements, water and sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu.

Ramaphosa announced a national lockdown late last month in an effort to curb the spread of deadly coronavirus. /GCIS

Cyril finally the president people of SA have been waiting for him to become It is often said that some people are born great, some become great and some have greatness thrust upon them.

And indeed, history is littered with many examples of greatness being thrust upon people. Often, it is moments of great adversity that force ordinary people to rise, to lift themselves above horizons. There are moments in life that define a man – moments we look back to and say: “This was the moment in history when this man morphed from an ordinary person into a man deserving of their place in history.”

A few days ago, we witnessed this kind of moment in SA. It happened on the night the president of the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced the decision to extend the national lockdown by two more weeks to ensure that the critical strides that have been made are not reversed.

In my opinion, the president was more presidential on that evening than he has ever been – more presidential than I have ever heard him.

And over the years, none which so greatly moved me.

The speech that evening, in the face of unimaginable crisis, was more profound than every single speech I have ever heard him make.

In that one speech, the man finally became my president.

He ceased to be the awkward and detached person he has always sounded like, whose speeches are clearly the work of speech writers who, though they have the language, lack the human

Opinion 15

Let’s hope rest of presidency characterised by decisiveness coupled with compassion As a guardian to my younger touch that separates a speech brother who is in high from a source of inspiration. school, I do not know how he On that evening, he finally will be examined in this became the captain of the critical penultimate year of ship that is South Africa – his studies, which will the ship that I and many determine if he can get into a others are aboard, as patriots university of his choice. But and believers in the capacity broadly, I don’t know what of our country to fashion a education will look higher civilisation. like for children of the Ramaphosa did not poor who can’t do egive us all the answers learning like some we needed. He did not can. I worry about resolve all the how e-learning will personal salient perpetuate structural problems that inequalities already confront us as we Malaika suffocating SA and negotiate existence in Mahlatsi hurling millions at times of Covid-19. the margins.

And these problems After listening to the are subjective and specific. president, I still did not know For me personally, the many things. But I knew one national lockdown has been thing: that SA is going to win extremely frustrating this difficult fight against financially. I was supposed to Covid-19; that solidarity is have relocated to my new going to win this battle house in Johannesburg but against this cruel pandemic; was unable to due to the and that humanity is going to regulations imposed just win this war. And I know shortly before month end. As this because in his speech, such, I am still residing in an the president inspired hope apartment I am renting and that this is possible. He therefore had to pay rent for comforted the disturbed in a this month. But the bank also deeply profound way. And by took its money for my home so doing, Ramaphosa finally loan. So, I paid twice – money became the president we I do not necessarily have. have all been waiting for him Listening to the president, to become. He cemented his I also did not know how we place in history. are going to rescue this I can only hope that this academic term as students kind of decisiveness, coupled because universities have with genuine compassion, come to a standstill and there will characterise the does not seem to be a remainder of his presidency. coherent vision around what Our country deserves no less. the next step is going to be.

national lockdown regulaOur country has handled the tions, Shoke said, “there are Covid-19 pandemic some who speak about exceedingly better than human rights... but human countries far ahead of us in life is more important than terms of access to resources any individual human and development. rights”.

I commend and applaud No, Gen Shoke, individual President Cyril Ramaphosa human rights and human life and minister of health Dr are not mutually exclusive.

Zweli Mkhize and the We cannot claim to protect countless workers who are human life for “the working tirelessly to greater good” whilst offer essential negating individual services and are human rights. Since devoted to ensuring the start of the lockthat our country is down, the soldiers you able to effectively have deployed have fight this pandemic, been seen infringing but as human rights on the human rights and social justice Mbuyiselo of civilians, even activist Mark Botha when civilians are not Heywood says, the Gender Imbizo flouting regulations. lauding of our The number of people government’s killed allegedly by the police response to this crisis should and soldiers, for allegedly not suspend critiquing the violating the national government-led response and lockdown announced by not stop us from asking Ramaphosa currently stands pertinent questions. at nine deaths.

In essence, we must not There isn’t any offence that surrender our hard-won justifies the death of democratic right to demand individuals. There is a answers from our plethora of ways to deal with government. those not abiding with the I agree with Heywood. The law. lauding of our government The statements of the while keeping them general are irresponsible, accountable goes a long way especially on the backin ensuring that their ground of the gross violation response to the crisis is even of human rights we have more effective and enhanced. witnessed by the soldiers.

By keeping quiet, we are Their behaviour hasn’t doing an injustice to ourbeen a positive advertiseselves as a society who has to ment for the respecting of live with the possible consehuman life as you put it. And quences of an ineffective to an extent, his statement response to this crisis and it’s says there are instances an injustice to our country where soldiers are justified possibly having one of the in not exercising restraint. leading and most holistic There are legal avenues approaches to this worldwide that have been made crisis. available for the handling of An optimal approach can individuals who are flouting only be achieved when civil the lockdown regulations. society engages and keeps The avenues do not include our government accountable. making people exercise, Often, crisis within our brutally beating or killing country has been brought to them. the fore by civil society This should not be organisations and they have occurring in a democratic tendered solutions. country that values the Our civil duty to keep sanctity of human rights. government accountable is The defence force personnel utterly important. should not be a law unto The reckless utterances of themselves.

South African National We have increasingly seen Defence Force (SANDF) the SANDF going into chief, Gen Solly Shoke, is communities that have just one of the many civilians. instances where South The understanding of Africans should be seeking human rights and how to answers and accountability intervene where there are from the state. civilians is paramount and Last week, after briefing a takes nothing away from contingent of soldiers in their ability to respond in Pretoria, more than a week war situations that need the after the SANDF had been required force. deployed to help enforce the

16 Consumer News

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

‘Rotten’ food claim rejected Man sick after eating chicken A Tshwane resident will only know after 21 days if AIG insurance company will compensate him for falling sick after allegedly eating chicken he bought at Spar in February.

Phumelele Ntshebe, 43, said AIG repudiated his claim unreasonably as the requirement to produce his stool did not form part of the claim form it made him complete.

AIG will now have a second look at the claim after Consumer Line stepped in.

Ntshebe, a senior legal adjudication officer at Medical Schemes, said he purchased food items from Savemor Spar in Kirkeny, Pretoria.

“Among the items that I bought were trays of chicken and after I consumed the stuff I fell ill,” Ntshebe said.

Before alleged vomiting coupled with diarrhoea, he says he also had a fever, stomach cramps followed by a terrible headache and shivering which, he says, prompted

Thuli Zungu Consumer Line Tel: (011) 280-5312. E-mail: zungut@sowetan.co.za or write to PO Box 6663, Johannesburg, 2000

him to go to see a doctor.

“Fortunately, my kids were not around and my wife does not eat meat hence I was the only person affected.

“I went to my doctor and was diagnosed for food poisoning and/or gastroenteritis for which I was later treated.”

He said he went for a pathological test, got treatment and underwent several more tests.

“It later transpired that the chicken in question was not fit for human consumption.”

Ntshebe kept the food items he bought should they ask him to produce them, but the forms he completed did not require him to supply proof, he said.

“I am still in possession of the items by the way.”

He subsequently advised the store of his experience and informed them that, as a result of this incident, he was

seeking damages, he said.

He said they told him that they will submit the claim to their insurance company.

Ntshebe provided all the relevant documents, including the invoice, medical certificate, pathology results, and claim forms.

“Now, you [Consumer Line] and I know that this incident constitutes a violation of the Consumer Protection Act [CPA] 68 of 2008,” he said.

Under the act, consumers are able to sue the supplier and manufacturer of goods, including food, for damages or injuries they suffered as a result of consuming the goods.

Ntshebe said AIG repudiated his claim on the grounds that there was no link between his illness and the consumption of the chicken thighs he bought.

The letter which Consumer Line has seen states that Ntshebe failed to produce pathological test (stools test) confirming the diagnosis of food poisoning.

Among other reasons for rejection of his claim he was told that he failed to provide

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any medical report in respect of food poisoning that he alleged he had suffered.

“You failed to furnish any proof in respect of the purchase of the chicken thighs you alleged you bought from our insured’s store [by the way of of a till slip or package of the chicken thighs] … therefore it cannot in any way be verified,” the letter read.

All the documents were submitted to Spar, he said the supermarket must have withheld this vital information to his disadvantage.

Consumer Line provided AIG with the documents last Wednesday. AIG said it needed 21 more days to review Ntshebe’s complaint.

“Together with our business partner we are working towards finding a solution to the issue. We can assure that … the complaint will receive proper consideration and will be handled fairly, consistently and promptly,” read AIG’s e-mail.

Magauta Mphahlele, the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman, said under the common law, a sup-

Phumelele Ntshebe will know after 21 days if AIG will compensate him for food poisoning. / S U P P L I E D

plier can be held civilly liable in court for damages arising from food poisoning.

Mphahlele said the CPA made it easier for a consumer to claim against a supplier for damages arising from food poisoning.

Sport 17

Sowetan Wednesday April 15 2020

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Egan Bernal, left, of Colombia competes on Champs-Elysees avenue during Paris stage of the Tour de France 2019 last July. / M U S T A F A Y A LCIN/ GETTY IMAGES

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Economic meltdown of cycling sector looms Virus might halt Tour de France Paris – The Tour de France is not only a French monument, but also the economic heartbeat of professional cycling itself and analysts fear heavy consequences if the coronavirus crisis forces its cancellation.

An announcement is expected this week on either a postponement or an outright cancellation of the 21-day extravaganza that is currently scheduled to start in Nice on

June 27. The “Grande Boucle”, as the Tour is known in France, is the central economic pillar which supports the 22 professional teams on the roster for 2020.

“Cancellation opens door to a possible economic meltdown in the cycling sector,” said Jean-Francois Mignot of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who has written the book A History of the Tour de France.

Maintaining the original dates looks almost impossible following French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on Monday that

public events with large crowds were banned until at least mid-July. France has been under lockdown since March 17, and nearly 15,000 people have died from coronavirus in the country.

Usually, up to 12 million fans line the roads as the Tour makes its way through the French countryside, towns and cities for three weeks.

“It’s as simple as this. If the Tour does not take place, teams could disappear, riders and staff alike would find themselves unemployed,” said Marc Madiot, the chief of top French outfit Groupama-FDJ.

His team budget is estimated at ß20m (about R395m) per year and is bankrolled by the state lottery and an insurance company.

The Tour rakes in revenue but the giant cost of staging the event, featuring logistics that are as spectacular as any mountainside showdown on two wheels, eat into the margins of all road races.

Sponsors are paying hard cash for the daily hours-long television coverage and even the smallest teams can get involved in a breakaway and hence command screen time.

– AFP

Fellaini cleared of Covid-19 after 3-week hospitalisation Midfielder will spend 14 days in isolation

Midfielder Marouane Fellaini is the only CSL player known to have contracted Covid-19. / G E T T Y I M A G E S / M A T T H E W P E T E R S

Shanghai – Former Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini was discharged yesterday after three weeks in a Chinese hospital being treated for coronavirus, his club said.

The 32-year-old Shandong Luneng midfielder, the only player known to have contracted the disease in the Chinese Super League (CSL), will now spend 14 days in quarantine for further observation.

The Belgium international said on March 22 that he had tested positive for the virus, having just returned to China, but assured fans that he was feeling fine.

While in hospital in the city

of Jinan, Fellaini posted videos of himself on Instagram exercising in his room.

“Fellaini was assessed and was deemed to have recovered, and was discharged today,” Shandong said in a brief statement.

China, where the outbreak emerged in December, says that it has curbed the illness at home, but is now worried about a second wave of infections from overseas.

Fellaini’s positive test dealt a blow to the CSL’s hopes of starting the season any time soon, after its February 22 start date was indefinitely postponed.

Fellaini joined Shandong from Manchester United in February last year for a reported ß7.2m (R145m). – AFP

18 Sport

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

Munganga frustrated by no-pay at Tshakhuma Player last received salary in October

By Mahlatse Mphahlele

A soccer player in Limpopo says he is close to a breaking point as his salary has not been paid since last year.

Jean Munganga joined GladAfrica Championship’s ambitious side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila from crosstown rivals and premier league campaigners Black Leopards in August. But now he is bitterly frustrated by the nonpayment of his salary since the end of October.

The 29-year-old DR Congo defender is appealing to Tshakhuma owner Masala Mulaudzi to pay his outstanding salaries as he is struggling to look after his family.

“It is tough to be in this situation where you are not able to support your family...‚” he said.

“It is very difficult to go for almost six months without a salary when you have a wife and kids and I have exhausted

all my savings.

“You must remember that I am not from South Africa‚ I also have a family in Congo where I come from who also rely on me for survival.”

Attempts to get comment from Mulaudzi and the club’s chief executive Sello Chokoe were unsuccessful as they did not answer their phones.

Munganga said he has only been paid twice‚ in August and October last year.

“I started working with them from August last year and I only got my salary in August and October last year‚” he said.

“It is painful because there are other players who are always paid on time and when I try to call club officials nobody answers the phone. In December when we played the last match of the year against University of Pretoria‚ I told the coach that if I don’t get paid at the end of the month, I am not coming back to the club.

“I took the matter to the PSL on March 14, but nothing has happened because football has been suspended.”

Special grant buoys Luyanda Hard times as lockdown bites Tebogo Makobela of Chippa United is hopeful that the arrival of Rulani Mokwena as coach will help his career as well as he hopes to return to action after a long-term injury. / L E F T Y S H I V A M B U / G A L L O I M A G E S

Makobela raring to bounce back My injury woes are over, he says

By Vuyokazi Nkanjeni

Chippa United defender Tebogo Makobela, who has been out of action due to injury, hopes coach Rulani Mokwena will give him some game time, if and when the Absa Premiership continues.

Makobela, 27, enjoyed regular action under coach Clinton Larsen during his first stint at the Port Elizabeth-based club.

The 2018/2019 season ended on a satisfying note for Chippa when they survived relegation but unfortunately the same could not be said for the rightback.

The former Jomo Cosmos player suffered two fractures on both the tibia and fibula in

May 2019 during Chippa’s last league game of the season against Kaizer Chiefs.

The unfortunate injury put him out of action for eight months. Now that he is back on his feet and fully recovered, the player is counting on new coach Mokwena to play him in the remaining matches, if they happen once the coronavirus pandemic settles.

“I am fully recovered,” Makobela said.

“I have been working hard to go back to the gym. I can tell you that I am 200% fit and I am hungry for the game.

“My chance will come, especially now with the new coach.

I hope he will give me the opportunity to play in these six remaining games of the season.”

Going back to the day of the incident that put him out for almost the entire season,

Makobela said the first question he asked the doctor who treated him was whether he would be able to play football again.

“He said ‘Yes, we’ll put you back together. You'll play again and forget all about this’.

“My biggest worry was not being able to play again because I am the bread-winner at home. So, I had fears of losing my job because I knew my family is relying on me.”

Limpopo-born Makobela said one needed to be mentally strong during the recovery process but does admit it was tough.

“I would get emotional every time I watched the team play.

The fact that I could not play broke my heart.

“I never showed how much I was hurting to my teammates but I cried a lot when I was alone.”

By Bongani Magasela

Special pension is helping former death row prisoner and now top boxing matchmaker Luyanda Kana to put food on the table while there is no boxing happening due to Covid-19.

Kana from Mdantsane is matchmaker par-excellence.

Matchmakers are licensed by BSA here but are independent in that they negotiate their own fees with promoters who pay them per tournament.

The man whose skills earned him 2018 BSA Matchmaker of the Year Award said times were tough but the special pension he receives since being pardoned by former president Thabo Mbeki in 2002 comes in handy.

“There is no income by means of matching fights because of the Covid-19 but I am surviving because I am one of

the political prisoners who were pardoned by comrade Thabo Mbeki,” the 57-year old said.

“The special pension is helping me even though it is little but I can do something to put food on the table. I am very worried about those affected by the Covid-19, especially professional boxers that depend solely on their purse money.”

Kana and 32 others from the ANC and PAC were sentenced to death. They were jailed for “serious political crimes” on the eve of SA’s new dispensation.

When Kana arrived in East London prison in 1989, he found political prisoner Makhenkesi Stofile there, and it was Stofile who encouraged Kana to get involved in boxing from the prison walls.

Kana started training fighters and later became a matchmaker. A matchmaker could come up with a real good fight that he knows the fans would love to see but it can’t happen without promoters’ interests.

Luyanda Kana is a revered matchmaker in SA. / MICHAEL P I N YA N A

Sport 19

Sowetan Wednesday April 15 2020

By Gomolemo Motshwane

The possibility of finishing the PSL season on June 30 appears unlikely as experts agree that teams would need mini-camps of at least a month to give players a chance to return to match fitness.

The current month-long inactivity is as long as the break players are given in the offseason. The last league game was played on March 11.

This inactivity will necessitate a training camp before games resume.

When administrators decide on a date to resume the season they will have to factor in this reality.

High performance manager at AmaZulu Josh Smith agrees that players cannot just jump straight into competition.

“Before the season can resume the players would need some time to get back into football fitness. The training programmes they are doing at home are not necessarily football-related, so they are not in a condition to play competitive football,” Smith told Sowetan.

“I think players would need at least a month to prepare before games can resume. We can’t just rush back because if we do we will risk injuries and it will also affect the quality of the performance on the pitch.”

Although clubs have given players fitness programmes to follow at home, it is not the same as the training they would normally do in training sessions.

“Of course, players do not have fields in their backyards to do sprints and practice with the ball. These exercise programmes do not mirror football because it’s being done at home,” Smith added.

‘Players will need extra time to get fit again’ Duo fear injuries for PSL stars

AmaZulu high performance manager Josh Smith, left and Polokwane City physical trainer Japhet Borges Neto

Each team in the Absa Premiership has an average of seven games left to play. The Nedbank Cup semis and final

also still need to be played.

Physical trainer at Polokwane City, Japhet Borges Neto, said multiple players would

Diarora wants belt taken from him after 1994 bout He must pay R12k to get it back: WBF

By Bongani Magasela

Former world boxing champion Ditau “Diarora” Molefyane must get a sponsor that will pay $700 (about R12,700) on his behalf to the WBF, if he cannot raise that amount himself, to get his WBF belt which he won in 1993, explained Howard Goldberg.

The Cape Town-based WBF president was responding to a request made by Molefyane, who said his junior lightweight belt was not returned to him after he had been dethroned by Mexican Aaron Zarate at Village Green in Durban in 1994.

He wore his belt going into the ring but lost the fight. That

belt was Molefyane’s and it was not at stake against Zarate. The promoter of that fight was supposed to have purchased the second belt which was to be contested for.

When a boxer wins a title, they own it – period.

“I gave Zarate my belt for television purposes; little did I know that I will not get it back,” bemoaned Molefyane, whose victory against Ricky Rayner in Australia on March 19 1993 made him the first local boxer to win a WBF belt.

Goldberg made it clear that it was the duty of the promoter in Durban to make sure Molefyane got his belt back.

Goldberg, who was still a referee and judge at the time, said: “I am more than willing to assist Molefyane on one condition that he gets a sponsor who will pay about $700.

Maybe I can try and get him a belt slightly cheaper.

“In most cases, champions

get injuries if games were hurriedly commenced.

“It’s very important that players get to a certain performance level before playing again. We cannot overload them and cause them more harm,” he said.

“This is going to take some time, just like the pre-season.

This break has been six weeks long so it’s almost as long as an off-season.”

‘‘

They need a certain performance level before playing again

go into the ring in a title defence wearing their belts; they lose fights and the belt will be put around the winner’s waist. The promoter of that fight must take it upon themselves that they give back the former champion his belt.”

Molefyane, the lion who shuffled like the great Muhammad Ali, said: “I don’t remember who staged the fight in Durban in 1994.”

He retired in 1995.

‘‘

It’s the duty of the promoter to make sure Molefyane got his belt back

Ditau Molefyane, right, in a fight against Quinton Ryan in this file picture. / J O E S E FA L E

Sport

Wednesday April 15 2020 Sowetan

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On-form Maritzburg United centre-back Rushine de Reuck tipped to win Defender of the Season award. / R Y A N W I L K I S K Y/ B AC K PAG E P I X

On top of his game

De Reuck puts team first Maritzburg star is not after personal glory

By Sihle Ndebele

While many have tipped Maritzburg United centre-back Rushine de Reuck to win the PSL Defender of the Season gong, the 24-year-old defender isn’t focussed on any individual accolades, insisting his main goal is to see the Team of Choice finish in the top four.

Before the Absa Premiership was forced into an unprecedented hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic last month, De Reuck was having a blistering campaign, starting all Maritzburg’s 24 league outings.

De Reuck’s brilliant display earned him a lot of plaudits in the local football space, with some believing he deserves to walk away with the Defender of the Season gong at the end

of the season.

The ex-Milano United man is one of the reasons Maritzburg are among the teams who’ve conceded least number of goals, tied up with Kaizer Chiefs with just 17 goals scored against them from 24 and 22 matches respectively. Mamelodi Sundowns have leaked two goals fewer from 21 games.

The lad from Kalksteenfontein in Cape Town prioritises inspiring the Team of Choice to a top four-finish over being crowned the best defender of the current campaign.

“I am very humbled by hearing people saying I should be the Defender of the Season, but I don’t look into that too much because to me the most important thing is to achieve as a team,” De Reuck told Sowetan.

“Our goal as a team is to end the season in the top four. I just want to help the team, individual goals come sec-

ond to me.”

The Maritzburg defender had a brief stint with Portuguese outfit Pacos de Ferreira’s B side between 2014 and 2015. De Reuck believes the experience he gained during his short

spell in Europe, where he was coached by the current AS Roma coach Paulo Fonseca, is bearing fruit.

“I learnt a lot of things in Portugal, especially the importance of tactical awareness. I can see that all the things I

learnt there are helping me at Maritzburg this season,” stated De Reuck.

“I was coached by Paulo Fonseca, a top coach with good heart. He always pushed me. I am happy to see him coaching Roma now.”

Other potential Defender of the Season candidates Motjeka Madisha (Sundowns) Madisha has missed only one of Sundowns’ 21 league games thus far. He’s yet to be booked in the league

Daniel Cardoso and Eric Mathoho (both Chiefs) this season and has been largely praised for his discipline.

Cardoso and his partner at the heart of Chiefs defence Mathoho are level on four goals from 22 and 20 league

games respectively.

The pair have more goals than any other touted candidate.

‘Dance’ Malesela decries being without a job Coach parted ways Galaxy in February

By Mahlatse Mphahlele

Dan Malesela is now without a job.

Dan “Dance” Malesela is pulling his hair out in frustration at home as he is without a coaching job and misses running the rule over players at the training ground.

Malesela has been without a

job since February when he parted ways with GladAfrica Championship side TS Galaxy‚ the club he led to the Nedbank Cup title last season and also to qualification to the playoff stage of the CAF Confederation Cup. The frustrated coach said sitting at home and twiddling his thumbs has been very difficult.

“I am ready to go back to

work and coach‚ sitting at home is not good‚” said Malesela.

“You wake up in the morning and don’t know what you are going to do for the rest of the day.

“It’s not easy for someone like me who is used to be out and about‚ my mind is always occupied with training and planning for the opposition.” he lamented.