Sowetan April 16 2020

owetan Lockdown Day

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

Former Sowetan lensman passes on

In the know on the move R5.70 (Eswatini, Bots 5.20 incl tax) Thursday April 16, 2020

page 15

www.sowetanlive.co.za

7,000 a day call to ask for food in Gauteng alone

Help feed our nation About 5,000 a day turned down as requests are screened to limit aid to those most in need page 8

Coronavirus Watch

Plea to parents

Pay your school fees page 2

Chiefs, Bucs join fight against virus back page

Why smokers are at high risk page 10

★

2 News

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School warns of pupil lockout over fees Parents blame lockdown for woes

By Yoliswa Sobuwa

A Northern Cape school has threatened to lock out pupils from its online learning portal whose parents failed to pay their fees.

St Patrick’s CBC school in Kimberley said pupils who owe school fees during the lockdown must be kicked out.

A parent of one of the pupils who owes shool fees and runs a bed-and-breakfast establishment said since the lockdown things have been difficult as there was no money coming in.

The father of a grade 5 pupil said the school sent them a message, saying everybody with outstanding school fees who had not accepted a payment arrangement on file will be blocked from online platforms.

“We were informed by the school to install WiFi or fibre networks in our homes, which added an extra burden financially as they said without it a learner will not be able to access the platform.

“This is a difficult time for us as business people and it does not mean that we will not pay the school fees.

“It is very sad that in the midst of all the turmoil they deem it fit to induce trauma and stress in our lives and those of our children.

“They are now denying our children the right to learn only because parents are owing school fees,” he said.

He said with the little that he had, he had to pay his workers.

Another parent, who sells clothes for a living, said her grade 8 child has been with the school since she was in crèche.

“I will definitely pay what I owe the school but what will happen then because she would have lost out on school work during the lockdown period?

“You can imagine how humiliating it is to tell your child that you had not been able to pay her school fees, which is why she can’t do her school work,” she said.

Department of basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said school fees must be paid.

“At the end of the day all learning for this whole year will be done by the same teachers. School fees are not a service on a month-to-month

basis. You pay for the year.”

The parent of a grade 7 pupil said the school would have known that business people don’t have any income during this period.

“We are keeping the saving for immediate expenses. At least they should have asked us to halve the amount because at this stage it is literally impossible to pay anyone.

“I am in the construction business and I haven’t had any income coming in,” he said.

Some parents felt that it’s only fair to pay school fees so that teachers can also be paid.

Milisa Piko, a Western Cape-based parent, said it was only fair for parents to pay their school fees if their salary is not affected during the lockdown period.

“I was raised by a parent

whose salary depended on school fees. We have people who depend on salaries for survival. What should they do during lockdown?” she said.

This period has been frustrating for scholar transport drivers as some parents refuse to pay, saying children are at home.

Lucky Xaba, chair of the Benoni Educational Transport Organisation (Beto), said their members were also greatly affected by the lockdown.

“Transporting children to school is a source of income for them and they have families to look after.

“They will not have petrol money when the schools reopen and some of them will even lose their cars as they won’t afford to pay instalments,” Xaba said.

New ideas

Doctors Anele Mtanjana and Jana du Plessis demonstrate how to use an intubox, designed at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, for workers’ safety. / A F P

Words of Faith Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path.

CPS taken to court Ex-grants payer ‘hid’ R800m profit

By Isaac Mahlangu

Proverbs 23:17-19 NIV

Twitter@sowetanlive

Facebook.com/sowetanlive www.sowetanlive.co.za

Former social grants distributor Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) has been hauled before the Constitutional Court for under-reporting its profits by as much as R800m and denying independent auditors full access to financial records.

This is according to court papers filed in the latest court challenge by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Freedom Under Law which accuses CPS of failing to comply with

the apex court’s previous order.

The NGO has asked the court to intervene as it had previously ordered that CPS’s audited profits from the illegal social grants distribution contract be verified by Sassa and approved by Treasury.

Freedom Under Law argued in court papers that there has not been proper compliance with the court’s order as Sassa’s independent auditors were apparently denied full access to CPS’s financial records and Treasury had also refused to approve the auditor’s report.

CPS refused to comment on the latest court challenge.

Rain Chartered Accountants Inc’s (Rain), which was

appointed by Sassa to verify CPS’s profits, had identified an amount of approximately R800m of unreported profit which was allegedly not reflected by CPS’s auditors.

Freedom Under Law’s CEO Nicole Fritz argued that “there has not been proper compliance with the orders [of the Constitutional Court]”.

“The court and the parties are not in a position to know the true extent of the net profit CPS made pursuant to the unlawful social grants contract.

This net profit must be repaid to prevent the perpetuation of unlawfulness... nevertheless, the verification report indicates that CPS’s true profit

may in fact be in the region of R800-million more than that which was reported to the Constitutional Court by CPS’s auditors,” argued Fritz.

She said the court’s intervention in this “matter is rendered all the more necessary by the fact that the work that Rain did complete, notwithstanding it being prevented from fulfilling its mandate, indicates great cause for concern and highlights the necessity for a comprehensive and accurate verification of CPS’s financial statements that were filed with this court”.

In 2014, the ConCourt found CPS’s contract with Sassa to be invalid. The invalidity of the agreement was twice suspended by the court to allow payment of social grants to continue before the SA Post Office took over mid-2018.

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

News

Hospital closes after staff test positive for virus Four patients and 15 health workers affected

By Kgaugelo Masweneng

Mediclinic is closing its hospital in Morningside, Johannesburg, and putting in place stringent measures after staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement, the hospital group confirmed that following the identification of a Mediclinic Morningside staff member who subsequently tested positive, more than 100 potential contacts have been tested, with the majority of these returning negative results.

“Currently four patients and 15 staff members have tested positive, nine of whom are healthcare workers.

“The staff members in question are all in isolation and will remain so until they are fully recovered,” said Mediclinic.

“As the safety of our patients, staff and doctors is our priority, Mediclinic has intensified both internal and external processes guiding our response.

“In accordance with our stringent protocols, Mediclinic immediately reviewed the situation to identify as a matter of

urgency all staff, doctors and patients potentially exposed.”

It confirmed that the national department of health also has firm processes in place governing contact tracing of those exposed to a positive individual.

Mediclinic said it would continue with a “containment plan” from yesterday until tomorrow. “During this period of assessment, testing and deep sanitation, no new admissions apart from emergencies will be accepted at the facility to allow all necessary protocols to be followed,” it said.

“Mediclinic acted swiftly to mitigate the risk to all involved. We can assure the community that we have established procedures relating to staff exposure, the risk thereof and testing. Testing has been expanded and will continue until everyone on site has been tested – including all patients, doctors, employees and service providers based at the hospital.

“All staff have been provided with appropriate PPE to mitigate the risk of nosocomial spread. In addition to the PPE, all areas considered a risk are also being deep cleaned and disinfected.”

‘‘

They are all isolated and will remain so until fully recovered

BE THE CHANGE STOP THE SPREAD

COVID-19 GOLDEN RULES SOCIAL DISTANCING

2m

Mediclinic Morningside has expanded testing to include everyone on site. /

GA L LO

I M AG E S / S H A RO N S E R E T LO

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

SA’s Covid-19 deaths have gone up – minister

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.

By Isaac Mahlangu

SA has recorded seven new Covid-19 deaths, pushing the number to 34.

This was announced last night by health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize in Randburg, Johannesburg, as he released the latest figures at a press briefing jointly held by MultiChoice, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, who donated personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.

Mkhize said the number of those infected with Covid-19 rose to 2,506, a jump from Tuesday’s 2,415. “Numbers are still increasing, so it’s important to emphasise the message of staying at home.”

Mkhize thanked the two soccer teams and MultiChoice for the huge sacrifices they have made with their donations.

Mkhize also threw the country’s weight behind the World Health Organisation

(WHO), which has been attacked by US president Donald Trump, who recently blamed it for siding with China and withholding information on the spread of the virus. Trump has also threatened to cut his administration’s funding to WHO. MultiChoice and the two Soweto football giants donated dozens of boxes of PPE at the national health laboratory services.

Orlando Pirates boss Dr Irvin Khoza said it was important to ensure that health workers who were in the frontline of fighting Covid-19 were supported with essential protective equipment. “Collaborations help to enhance efforts, the efforts of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have been enhanced by our partner MultiChoice... we’ve identified frontline staff, these are the men and women risking their lives as they interact with the nation delivering critical services,” Khoza said.

Khoza said they will also use their channels to distribute the government’s messages on Covid-19.

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

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

SORE THROAT HIGH FEVER DRY COUGH

SHAKING CHILLS HEADACHES

Number of those infected has risen to 2,506

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

IF YOU ARE SHOWING THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

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

WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE LIVES 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.

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.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

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

Use the MPILO APP and answer questions for self screening.

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

GAUTENG

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Gauteng Provincial Government |

gauteng_government1

4 News

Rate slash ‘to ease strain’ on SA Not good news for all

By Jeff Wicks

The latest repo rate cut by the SA Reserve Bank, the second reduction by one percentage point in a less than a month, is expected to help alleviate pressure on consumers and keep the economy going.

The cut on Tuesday brings the interest rate to the lowest point in history as global financial players pare back lending rates to offset Covid-19.

But experts said the bank’s forecast that the GDP would contract by 6.1% – effectively shaving as much as R400bn from the fiscus – was a gracious estimate.

“We are in for something really bad here. That is too conservative – the economy will contract by more than that. The last time we saw something like this was in 1929‚” said economist Dawie Roodt.

SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago said the shift in monetary policy was aimed at improving the resilience of households and business as lockdown begins to pinch. Consumers will pay less interest on their debt‚ allowing for more disposable income and respite.

“In addition to easing of interest rates‚ the Bank has taken steps to ensure adequate liquidity in money and government bond markets...” said Kganyago.

Lesetja Kganyago

Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

News

5

Citizens stuck in Egypt need help R20k to fly to Morocco

By Ernest Mabuza

Forty-three citizens stranded in Egypt‚ whose flight home on Tuesday was abruptly cancelled after they paid R7‚000 each‚ now face a whopping bill to charter a flight to Casablanca‚ Morocco‚ to get back to SA. It would cost them‚ as a group‚ about $47‚000 (R871‚693) plus $52 (R964) per person in passenger taxes.

Each of them will need to pay more than R20‚000 to fly to Casablanca and join other South Africans to return home. They want the government to cover the cost of the charter flight.

In a message to the group on Tuesday‚ the SA embassy in Egypt said a flight would pick up South Africans in Casablanca on Friday April 17.

“Unfortunately, it can’t come to Egypt [because of flight route rights and landing allocations]. The only option… is to take a charter flight to Casablanca at their own cost as the government cannot pay.

“The Casablanca pickup is contingent on the citizens in Egypt joining those already there‚ meaning if you cannot fly to Casablanca then the whole project falls off.”

One stranded citizen said if the SA government was unable to negotiate with Egypt to land in Cairo‚ it was its duty to cover the cost of the charter.

View of Cairo

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Page 6 — 16 April 2020 — Sowetan

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

News

7

Nolo finally releases single Nguwe to launch him

By Emmanuel Tjiya

The first time Nolo Seodisha recorded his single Nguwe, he was eliminated on reality competition show Idols SA. Just a few weeks after finally releasing his single that would be kicking off his solo career, he hit another stumbling block – the lockdown.

Although he is disappointed that he won’t get to promote the Afro-pop love song as he would have liked, Seodisha remains excited about his budding music career.

“As it’s frustrating, I think the president made a really good call because people come first.

“But we have the internet and we can push the music there. It might not be enough, but it’s what we have now.

“It’s always better to perform a song to different audiences in different regions in order to get the people closer to your brand.”

Seodisha recorded the single as top four contestant in November, alongside Idols fellow contestants Micayla Oelofse, Sneziey Msomi and winner Luyolo Yiba.

Top 5 Chill Out and Dial up the Love Now I Know by Kirk Whalum; We’re In This Love Together by Chris Walker; Love High

by Jann Klose; Keep Your Eyes On Me by Louise Carver; Close To You by Jonathan Butler

Nolo Seodisha

8 News

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

Demand for food surges How poor are fed during lockdown

By Penwell Dlamini, Mandla Khoza and Peter Ramothwala

The national lockdown is hitting the poor hardest with provinces saying they have seen an exponential increase in people seeking social relief and food.

Department of social development offices across the country said they had been inundated with calls from people asking for help with food.

The country entered day 21 of the lockdown today, which has since been extended until April 30.

In Gauteng, at least 7, 000 requests for food parcels are received a day. Acting MEC of social development Panyaza Lesufi told Sowetan that some requests for food were coming from outside the province.

“We have been forced to shut down the call centre because the numbers were too much.

People were calling from all over the country but our focus is Gauteng only,” Lesufi said.

Lesufi said not everyone who cries hunger receives the food parcels as the department has to screen each request.

“We have existing clients that we are supporting. On the calls that we receive we prioritise people who are sick, those who have nothing to eat as they have no income due to the lockdown and the homeless.

Our process is structured...

The majority of the people asking for help say it is due to the lockdown,” he said.

On average about 2,000 a day are able to benefit on average. After getting the alert of someone who needs food, the department sends its workers to the home of the person for screening. This is done to establish if they are not benefiting from other form of government support.

By Mandla Khoza and Naledi Shange

A desperate mother, struggling to feed her children, says she wished they were hospitalised so that they can be fed.

Agnes Shabangu, 45, from Ntimba village, outside Malalane in Mpumalanga, told Sowetan that her employer told her that because she was not working due to the lockdown, she would not be getting paid. The woman is employed as a farmworker and earns R3,000 a month.

She said her children, the youngest who is 15, are now forced to go fishing in a river about 2km away from home to get something to eat.

While the department of social development in Mpumalanga called on community

The homeless, unemployed and families living below the bread line gather in Mayfair, Johannesburg, to collect food parcels on Sunday. / D I N O L LOY D

“Once the screening is done, we alert the food bank to send the parcel to the affected person. We have five food banks which are located in the five regions of the province. We have been distributing food parcels long before the lockdown,” Lesufi said.

The department has R80m dedicated to provide relief to struggling individuals in the province.

“We understand that people who receive grants could also be struggling but we have to prioritise those who have nothing at this stage… These are people who were begging at the robots for a living but who cannot do so due to the lockdown. We, however, want to ramp up the number of people benefiting daily to 5, 000,” Lesufi said.

People needing food parcels can now send emails to support@gauteng.gov.za.

In Mpumalanga, the department said it was getting more than 300 calls a day.

Spokesperson Comfort

Ngobe said they were overwhelmed by the unexpected high number of calls. They have since increased the number of lines to five.

“As you know, we always had people who were on our database, but during this lockdown period there’s more numbers coming in... per day we [are] receiving about 300 calls from people requesting food relief. We are getting to them and there’s more who are in need,” said Ngobe.

“We would like our people to please not abuse the lines, closing space for people who really need help, because some people get screened and we find out that some are capable enough to buy food.”

The department of social development in Mpumalanga can be contacted on 079-8903471, 079-890-0175, 082-0447400 and toll-free on 0800020-4098.

The Limpopo department of social development said they have identified 5 ,000 beneficiaries in the province and dis-

tribution started at the weekend.

“We rely on the list given to us by our social workers, community development practitioners and Sassa [South African Social Security Agency] officials who do a thorough screening to make sure relevant people benefit. And the distribution is going according to the plan,” said spokesperson Witness Tiva.

He said they were giving priority to those families who earn less than R850 and were receiving enquiries from ordinary citizens. “This shows that the demand is high and we appeal to donors to come on board.”

Tiva said they have asked police to be at distribution points after a scuffle broke out on Monday when the Greater Letaba mayor Peter Matlou and social development employees were blocked from giving beneficiaries food parcels.

The community claimed the department was giving food to undeserving beneficiaries.

Mom faces everyday struggle to feed family Kids found crammed in Alex members who need food to contact it for help, the mother has not been able to get

through for days due to the high volume of calls from people seeking food relief.

“I don’t know what to do.

The food I bought when I got paid last month is finished.

Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo and former MEC of safety and security Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane visiting Alexandra township. / F R E D D Y M AV U N DA

They gave us numbers to call for food relief, but those numbers are always engaged. I’m sending them a ‘Please Call Me’ message, but they don’t call.

“When I raised my frustration, my children left saying they are going to fish. They came back with fish and at least tonight [last night] we are going to eat...,” said Shabangu.

Spokesperson for the department of social development Comfort Ngobe said they would reach out to the family and try to assist them.

Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, mayor Geoff Makhubo found 19 children and one adult crammed into a two-room dwelling in the informal set-

In the Eastern Cape, social development spokesperson Gcobani Maswana said: “We always have a budget of R50m to help poor families but the number of people in need has increased so much. We are working with Sassa.

“We anticipate more demand for food relief as there are many people who are not working during the lockdown.”

Maswana said people who needed food relief must contact councillors, traditional leaders or church leaders.

“Our people must not panic because food is ready and it’s coming,” Maswana said.

KwaZulu-Natal has called on those in dire need to apply for food parcels.

Provincial Sassa spokesperson Sandy Godlwana said: “An appeal is made to everyone who might know of someone in dire need of help to not hesitate but approach Sassa.”

You can contact 033-8463400 or WhatsApp 071-6071514.

tlement while distributing food parcels to hungry residents affected by the coronavirus lockdown in Alexandra.

Makhubo’s spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase said the mayor visited the family on Tuesday and found the children in the care of a 34year-old woman. “[They live in] a barely furnished home in a highly dense area in between other informal houses... You have to go through a very narrow passage to get to the house at the back of all the other informal dwellings.

“It is really not a space that is conducive to be raising children or habitable for that number of people, especially young children,” Ndamase told TimesLIVE.

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

News

9

Stores close after Covid-19 scare Dis-Chem and Checkers employees test positive

By Jeff Wicks and Sipokazi Fokazi

A Dis-Chem pharmacy at the Blubird Shopping Centre in Johannesburg has been closed after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Checkers Ballito Junction on the Dolphin Coast shutdown as well after one of its employees tested positive for the virus.

Dis-Chem’s national clinic manager‚ Lizeth Kruger‚ said in a statement that a staff member had tested positive and had been sent home to self-isolate and seek medical care‚ if necessary.

“The store was closed [on Tuesday] and a professional cleaning service‚ complete with staff in hazmat suits‚ has been

Quintin the robot does ward rounds at the Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town. /

SUPPLIED

Fight against virus gets new soldier in Quintin Medics can monitor robot’s work from home

By Kgaugelo Masweneng

Intensive care specialists at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town have a new infection-resistant “colleague” helping them do ward rounds on Covid-19 patients.

That colleague is a robot named Quintin‚ who stands as an example of how the pandemic has brought ingenuity and collaboration to the fore.

The robot‚ made by Double Robotics‚ has been employed to help specialists do “virtual” ward rounds if they are unable to be present – even from home.

Prof Coenie Koegelenberg of the pulmonology unit at Stellenbosch University’s faculty of medicine and health sciences started experimenting with options to perform virtual ward rounds in the intensive care unit (ICU) shortly before lockdown.

“Between the specialists‚ we will share the workload of Covid-19 patients who end up in ICU. The odds of at least one or all of us falling ill are quite high‚ so we need to realistically plan for what could happen‚” Koegelenberg said.

“If any of the specialists gets the virus and is unable to physically go to work‚ we

will be able to function remotely using the robot‚ from a phone or a laptop.

“Using this device will enable us to provide a service if our skill sets are in short supply.”

The idea of using robots came about through “a combination of thoughts of many people”, said Koegelenberg.

“We started wondering how we could help more people if we ourselves were to fall ill.”

His wife‚ dermatologist Dr Suretha Kannenberg‚ had told him about this device.

“On Wednesday March 18‚ on my way home after many meetings‚ I wondered whether ‘virtual’ ward rounds in many ICUs could be feasible‚” he said.

“I phoned my wife and shared my thoughts. I had thought of using a fancy ‘nanny cam’ she bought a few years ago.

“She suggested using the Sunskill Laboratory’s Double Robotics robot instead.

The Sunskill lab without any hesitation agreed to have the robots be used in the ICU until the pandemic is over.”

The robot looks like a computer tablet on two wheels. It uses gyroscope and accelerometer sensors in its base and can be controlled with a desktop‚ tablet or smartphone. It enables communication between patient and doctor through a microphone and a camera‚ and can relay the vital signs of highly infectious patients.

brought in to thoroughly deep clean the whole shop. The store will reopen on Friday‚” said the statement.

Kruger added that other staff had been tested and were being monitored. “...those who have been in close contact are now self-isolating. In fact‚ Dis-Chem has been screening all employees’ temperatures every morning for the past few weeks as an added safety precaution‚” she said.

Aadilah Ryklief‚ manager of Bayside Mall in Table View‚ said the Checkers store would reopen once the health department gave it permission to do so.

“We have been informed that a mobile testing clinic has been dispatched to the store and all the Checkers employees are being tested.

The Checkers Group will also dispatch a professional decontamination company to sanitise and deep clean the store‚” said Ryklief.

10 News

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

‘We don’t yet know enough how to beat the virus’ Doctors caught in awkward situation

By Tanya Farber

The professor of vaccinology at Wits University, Shabir Madhi, says smokers have a two times greater chance of developing severe Covid-19 disease than the greater population. / 1 2 3 R F

‘Covid-19 is severe against smokers’ Govt correct about restriction – expert

By Isaac Mahlangu

Smokers face a much higher risk of developing severe complications or dying from covid-19 infections than nonsmokers.

According to local health experts, smokers who contract Covid-19 are most likely to have more severe infections and struggle to fend off the disease which has already killed 27 South Africans.

Wits professor of vaccinology, Shabir Madhi, told Sowetan yesterday that smokers have a two times greater chance of developing severe Covid-19 disease than the greater population.

“There’s a number of different reasons: one of the reasons is that smokers generally

would have more chronic lung problems and they have seven times higher risk of actually dying from Covid-19,” he said.

Madhi said smoking created very fertile entry points for the disease in the body.

“The other problem is that when one smokes it affects mucosa, the lining at the back of the nose in your throat going down into your airways, smoking damages the mucosa and makes it more susceptible to getting infected with the virus and it also affects your immune system, so your body can’t get rid of the virus as easily.”

National Institute of Communicable Diseases’ Professor Adrian Puren echoed Madhi’s sentiments, saying “smokers may already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity

which would greatly increase risk of serious illness”.

“Conditions that increase oxygen needs or reduce the ability of the body to use it properly will put patients at higher risk of serious lung conditions such as pneumonia,” Puren said.

Although the South African government was yet to fully explain its decisions to ban smoking, Puren said lessons from China where Covid-19 originated showed that smokers were more vulnerable.

“In China, men and women who smoked had poorer outcomes following infection.”

Madhi said it made so much sense why the SA government had opted to ban smoking as the country battles against the spread of the coronavirus.

He advocated for the status quo to remain the same.

■ mahlangui@sowetan.co.za

We still don’t know how Covid-19 kills us, and that raises a big red flag for doctors trying to treat critically-ill patients.

Online science publication Nature says that scientists are not sure “whether the virus itself ” is what kills us, or whether our immune system’s response is so strong that it “ultimately overwhelms the patient’s organs”.

This puts doctors in a frustrating dilemma in an emergency situation. If they reach for drugs that “dampen the immune response”, these drugs could also “undermine the body’s own fight against the coronavirus”. Such drugs would include steroids that “act broadly to suppress the immune system” in general.

“My greatest fear is that this gets taken to an extreme, where people are using whatever they can get their hands on to turn off the immune response,” Daniel Chen, an American immunologist told Nature.

“You can’t knock down the immune system at a time when it’s battling an infection.”

Researchers say clinical data suggests that the immune system “is playing its part in

‘‘

Steroids no silver bullet in managing those infected with virus

the decline and death of people” infected with the virus, but this doesn’t make steroids the silver bullet for managing it. Also, this plays into the virus’s strongest weapon at the moment: we just don’t know enough about it to battle it properly.

According to Nature, “as coronavirus patients flood hospitals worldwide, physicians are wading through streams of incomplete data ... that have not been peer-reviewed”. This means they’re “struggling to find ways to help their patients” and are “sharing experiences on social media”. Some doctors are even “trying cocktails of unproven therapies in a desperate bid to save lives”.

“People are watching patients deteriorate before their eyes, and there’s a very strong motivation to reach for any therapy that you think could be effective,” Kenneth Baillie, an intensive-care anaesthetist at the University of Edinburgh told Nature. “When I feel powerless at the end of a bed, I feel the same.”

Rafi Ahmed, an immunologist in Georgia in the US, explains that some viruses affect you immediately and in that case, it is “likely the virus itself ” that has made you sick in a type of “hit-and-run” way.

“But with viruses in which symptoms only appear a few days later, like Covid-19, it is likely that the body has been fighting the disease but adding to its damaging effects at the same time. Simply put, “collateral damage from the immune response often contributes to the illness”, says Ahmed.

In the absence of an answer, Ahmed and other specialists are, according to Nature, “hopeful that researchers will arrive at a combination therapy that does not completely suppress the immune system, combined with an antiviral drug that directly targets the virus”.

EFF councillors must toe the line, says Limpopo party boss Buthane says 33% pay dock remains

By Peter Ramothwala and Kgothatso Madisa

EFF chairperson in Limpopo Jossey Buthane says councillors are not in politics for monetary gain but to serve the public.

Buthane was reacting to a story Sowetan published yesterday where some councillors expressed dissatisfaction with the decision by the party to dock 33% of their salaries to

contribute to the fight against coronavirus. Buthane said the decision taken by party leadership would have to be fully adhered to.

Several councillors in Limpopo opposed the move, saying 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 party took a decision

last week that all its public representatives, including MPs, MPLs and its 827 councillors in 221 municipal councils would contribute 33% of their wages towards the government’s Solidarity Fund.

“We are not in it for money,” Buthane said yesterday.

“I want to assure our movement that EFF Limpopo public representatives remain disciplined and respect democratic centralism.”

Some of the councillors 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 tough. You see, this guy [Julius 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: “Many councillors are crying, calling me. I can’t do anything.”

EFF chairperson in Limpopo Jossey Buthane. / S A N D I L E N D LOV U

CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

News

‘We were not checked for Covid-19’

Lockdown boosts TV viewership Quantum leap for Connie, Shona’s The Queen

By Emmanuel Tjiya

Connie and Shona Ferguson’s TV show The Queen has delivered record ratings, thanks to the national lockdown period.

According to the latest TV figures, the Mzansi Magic daily drama produced by Ferguson’s Film was watched by 2.28-million viewers on Tuesday March 31.

That’s a jump of a million more people from its mostwatched episode the month before – 1.21-million viewers watched the show on Thursday February 27. This makes the show the most watched on DStv, followed by Our Perfect Wedding (OPW).

OPW also registered a lockdown an audience of 1.83-million viewers on Sunday March 29. The month before, 904,223 people tuned into OPW on February 23.

Another show that saw a huge lockdown lift was Mzansi Magic’s new telenovela Gomora, with actress Katlego Danke in the lead.

The premiere episode of the show debuted at number eight on DStv’s top 10 show of the month with a rating of 1.09million on Monday March 30.

But the second episode on Tuesday March 31 soared to viewership of 1.70-million to become the third mostwatched show on DStv behind The Queen and OPW. Date My Family (1.63-mil-

Inmates fume after warder tests positive

By Michael Kimberley and Kathryn Kimberley

lion), The Omen (1.44-million), Mnakwethu (1.34-million), The River (1.16-million) and Isibaya (1-million) complete the top 10 list for pay TV all with episodes that aired during the lockdown.

Public broadcaster SABC also enjoyed glowing ratings during the period. Uzalo remains the most-watched show with 10.29-million viewers tuning in on Monday March 30. That’s a jump from the previous month that was watched by 9.31-million people.

The same night Generations: The Legacy held steady with 8.21-million from a viewership of 8.20-million the month before. Skeem Saam saw the biggest lift by surging to 7.25million audiences, while in February the show pulled in a viewership of 5.95-million.

Free-to-air channel e.tv’s daily dramas Scandal! (5.17million), Imbewu: The Seed (4.14-million) and Rhythm City (3.89-million) saw an increase on Tuesday March 31, to become the top three shows on the channel.

Streaming service Showmax has confirmed that the platform has also been posi-

‘‘

Daily drama was watched by 2.28m viewers on March 31

11

Shona and Connie Ferguson of the Ferguson’s Film. / T S H E P O tively impacted by the national lockdown with the number of active users up 50%.

“We’re in the fortunate position of being able to do something to help people through this period,” said Niclas Ekdahl, CEO of the connected video division of MultiChoice.

“We’ve added live news and

education channels to Showmax using the streaming functionality originally set up for sport.

“We’ve also created edutainment content shows to help parents, and we’re even adding yoga and other exercise programming,” Ekdahl said.

KEKANA

As a warder at St Albans Correctional Centre in Port Elizabeth tested positive for Covid19‚ prisoners are fuming that they were only asked simple questions about their health despite some showing symptoms for the coronavirus.

The total number of infections in the Eastern Cape was 175 on Tuesday afternoon.

Of these‚ 53 inmates and 24 correctional services officials in the province have tested positive for the virus.

The East London Correctional Centre has the bulk of the correctional services cases – 76 in total.

Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said 34 officials at St Albans had already been placed in quarantine‚ reports Sowetan sister publication HeraldLIVE. “The tracing processes are under way in St Albans‚” Nxumalo said.

“This is looking at the rapid identification of laboratoryconfirmed cases‚ the isolation of those who test positive and management of the pandemic within our centres‚” he said.

While the department’s swift move to quarantine officials was applauded by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union‚ prisoners at St Albans feel they have been left in the lurch.

“They have done nothing to check if we were infected by this warder‚” an awaiting-trial prisoner at Medium A‚ who declined to be named‚ said.

Nxumalo did not respond to questions about how prisoners were practising social distancing or the inmates’ claims.

Artist chronicles coronavirus lockdown in daily charcoal drawings Diniso captures history in making

By Patience Bambalele

Veteran arts activist and theatre maker Gamakhulu Diniso is using the Covid-19 lockdown as an inspiration to create art pieces daily to artistically capture the moment.

The art marathon, as he defines it, began on the first day of the 21-day lockdown on March 26 and the last piece of the first series of the marathon will be produced today at his house in Bedworth Park in Sharpeville, on the Vaal.

Using charcoal on paper, it takes the artist less than 10 minutes to create each piece.

He explained that once the for-

mulation of the artwork has happened in his head, it was easy to put it on paper.

The series captures the stress that the coronavirus lockdown brought to the community, the misunderstanding and people’s perception around it. Diniso, whose two children are also artists, plans to start a new series tomorrow to reflect the extension of the lockdown.

“I have painted a series, starting with the stress that lockdown brought to us. Some people did not trust the masks because they believed that they will infect them. Later, people started to understand this virus and how the lockdown works. But in this series, I’m able to show that old people believe that the coronavirus needs a serious prayer

to end,” Diniso said.

“As an artist, it is my duty to educate and encourage people during this lockdown. We need to encourage people to stay positive. Most important, I wanted to capture this moment for younger generations.”

Diniso, who turned his house into a theatre, and gallery/museum, as well as running a mini-coffee shop, has been hit hard by the lockdown like all small businesses.

He normally hosts poetry sessions on Fridays and bookclub readings on Saturdays where people come over to support him by buying coffee, water and cold drinks.

However, since the lockdown started he has not been able to make money to complement his artistic career.

Arts activist Gamakhulu Diniso with the collection of his artwork on the coronavirus lockdown. / A N T O N I O M U C H A V E “It has been hard because the people who support us when the place is open are not coming at the moment. We

have jazz sessions on Sundays and also work closely with students from Vaal University of Technology,” Diniso said.

KINGJAMES 50556/R

We miss a high-five.

A handshake. A walk. A run even.

We miss the sounds of bustling streets and full schools at break time.

Miss watching the sunset. Not hesitating to open a door.

Ride in a bus. Sit next to a friend. Or give someone a hug when they need it.

And the reason we’re missing all these little things?

Well, that’s caused by a little thing too. So small, we can’t even see it.

But in order to get back to all our favourite things, there’s just one little thing we need to do.

Stay home and stay safe, South Africa.

That’s why the Motsepe family and companies associated with them, including Sanlam, have pledged R1 billion to help South Africa.

Sanlam is a Licensed Financial Services Provider.

Page 12 — 16 April 2020 — Sowetan

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

Lifestyle 13

UNITED A P A R T NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND UNITE, APART This is an unprecedented moment in South Africa’s history. Lockdown is in full effect, businesses have been temporarily closed, and we’re all adjusting to this new normal for as long as it may take.

But what does life in lockdown look like? Well, that’s up to you.

Show us how you’re getting through, and what lockdown means to you, by submitting video clips, images, voice notes, or anything else that captures the essence of this extraordinary event, to:

WHATSAPP

+27 (63) 521-8618

EMAIL

UNITEDAPARTSA@ARENA.AFRICA

Each day, we will choose our favourite submissions to be featured as a daily snapshot of lockdown life and share them to our social channels under #UnitedApartSA and #LoveChange, and one submission per day will receive a prize worth R700. Then, when all this is over, our favourite submission will receive a prize valued at R5,000, and we will use all the content we have collected to create a documentary, so the world can see our story.

#LoveChange #UnitedApartSA Page 14 — 16 April 2020 — Sowetan

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

Tribute

Late legendry singer Johnny Clegg shows his dances moves with one of his dancers. / P H O T O S / T S H E K O K A B A S I A / S U N DAY W O R L D

Mahotella Queens, renowned for their mbaqanga music, perform at one of the music festivals in Johannesburg. Kabasia was there with his camera.

Tributes to fallen ‘great shooter’

15

Andre Schwartz who plays the main charactor ‘Phantom’ is a South African cast members of ‘Phantom Of The Opera’ performed at the State Theatre.

Late former statesman Nelson Mandela during a function where his Nelson Mandela Foundation received a donation.

Kabasia was always ready with his camera to capture the moment.

Tsheko Kabasia, photojourno with an eagle eye, is no more.

Kabasia died after long illness

By Tankiso Makhetha

The brother of former Sowetan and Sunday World photographer Tsheko Kabasia has described him as a coolest Rastafarian, kind and funny.

Kabasia, 58, died in hospital on Tuesday after a long illness.

Abram yesterday described his brother as the coolest Rastafarian he knew, but also someone he looked up to.

“He was a lovely guy who

was loved by people. He was very kind and funny, but would not hesitate to tell you when you were wrong. He shot from the hip,” Abram told Sowetan.

He said his brother loved arts and enjoyed playing the piano. “It’s going to be sad not hearing the sweet melody coming from him playing the piano. We enjoyed a good relationship and we are sad that he left us,” Abram said.

He said Kabasia is survived by two children who considered him a role model.

Kabasia’s death came as a shock to many, with tributes

People of Orlando East, Soweto, took to the swimming pool to cool down on one of the hottest days in Johannesburg.

Mafikizolo’s Theo Kgosinkwe

pouring in following the announcement of his death.

Long-time friend and former colleague Antonio Muchave said he spoke to the late lensman a day before he died.

“We didn’t talk much, but had agreed to talk on Tuesday [the day of his death]. He was one of the best in the industry.

I remember how he was helpful when he joined our newsroom during the migration from film to digital. He was more than helpful and was willing to teach us. He was a gentleman,” Muchave said.

He said the industry had lost a great shooter and that it would be difficult to process his death.

“The quality of his pictures was second to none. He wasn’t

doing photography for the salary, but for the arts and the love of it,” Muchave said.

Veli Nhlapo, who worked with Kabasia for eight years at Sowetan and Sunday World, said Kabasia was a “slave for theatre and arts photography”.

“He enjoyed shooting arts, dance and theatre. He was a born artist. He would kill you for an opportunity to shoot an arts event. But he was humble and kept to himself. I have lost a friend and a brother.

“It’s also sad because he died on the same day that Bongani Mnguni [former Sowetan and Sunday World lensman] died,

but a year apart. That has really touched me.”

Sowetan deputy news editor Sibongile Mashaba said Kabasia was a bubbly person.

“His laughter was capturing.

He joked a lot and there was never a dull moment when he was around. He was efficient and loved photography. May his beautiful soul rest in eternal peace,” Mashaba said.

Kabasia’s family said they were yet to confirm his burial date as arrangements were still under way.

■ The pictures are a selection of Kabasia’s work over the years.

Kgotla Baeti of Botswana, left, punches Ephraim Kabane. Kabasia was always there at the right moment to take a picture.

Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

16 Opinion Your SMS views

Send your comments to 33664 Each sms costs R1

Mbalula, open spares now Once a liar always a liar. Minister of transport Fikile Mbalula promised us at the start of the lockdown that spares shops will be open. That was during an interview with Power FM. He is now quiet. – Bongani, Mogale City

How will anyone buy booze?

President Cyril Ramaphosa has requested our nation to lock down for our safety but some people want liquor stores to open. How are these people gonna access these stores when the lockdown is still on?– Nicky Nibbler, Randpoort

Miracle pastors, duty calls Covid-19 is deadly! Where are the pastors who can raise the dead?

We want them to help our government with their miracles during this difficult time. Let’s pray while waiting for them to report to our government. – Anon

Food parcels fraud not new It is not surprising that there is so much corruption in the distribution of food parcels in Gauteng because corruption is the order of the day, throughout the country. Whenever there is a crisis in the country, it is an opportunity

for the ANC and its supporters to be involved in corrupt activities.

So, it is not surprising when there is corruption in the distribution of food parcels. The ANC corruption is too deep, I doubt even the “New Dawn" could stop it. – N’wabvenula Phangani

Sowetan Says

Poor pushed over brink into hunger Imagine this: you are unemployed and survive on income from odd jobs around town.

With the national lockdown severely limiting movement, your already measly source of income has completely dried up.

On the Easter weekend people come to your neighbourhood to give out food parcels.

Only, by the time you get to the delivery point, it is too late, the limited number of parcels are finished.

You go back home, banking on word on the street that there would be more the next day.

That day comes … nothing.

The next and then the next continue to dash your hopes.

Frustration mounts and anger erupts when police push back against a desperate community gathering to search for answers.

Behind the protests in Alexandra, northern Johannesburg, this week are real people with families desperate to get food.

For many citizens living in conditions of poverty, the past two weeks have pushed them further into a state of destitution.Different spheres of government have stepped in with some relief efforts.

But it is not enough to meet the growing need in our communities.

In a radio interview yesterday, social development minister Lindiwe Zulu said negotiations were happening with Treasury to allow for the annual Sassa budget to be used to help those in need.

Provided that all appropriate laws are adhered to, these efforts must be supported.

Furthermore, initiatives such as the Solidary Fund are most crucial at this time.

They must not only plug efficiency gaps that exist in state delivery, they should also expand capacity using networks available in the private sector.

Indeed, we agree that preserving health, through current lockdown regulations, is of utmost importance.

However, we also need to ensure that we have a capacitated, wellcoordinated and far-reaching delivery machinery to help communities currently battling to survive.

Covid-19 demands from all of us as a nation to exercise a level of empathy, dedication and innovation unprecedented in recent years to ensure that we confront the humanitarian crisis facing our society.

Letters Alcohol usage is not essential It cannot be correct that the court will be engaged about opening liquor stores at this stage of Covid-19. We do not have to be an embarrassment to the world that ours is the debate of liquor usage.

We must be very sober that as citizens we are able to show that we are morally correct to distinguish between what is best for society at large rather than individual self-gain.

Imagine what will happen if we allow liquor outlets to open. Who is going to be responsible for the unbecoming behavior and maintaining order?

When the police will be stoned and people loot the outlets, who must take responsibility? Even in this lockdown we see how closed ones were looted.

I’m not sure if this forum really understands how serious this Covid-19 is. If they do then they don’t take themselves seriously and that is selfish.

Big up to health workers who continue to save lives Let the world salute all healthcare patriots out there to stay firm and strong, to push through with whatever each new day brings.

There is rarely any acknowledgement and recognition, let alone the accolades for their dedication and hard work. A growing number of our dedicated health workers have been infected by Covid-19.

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

Let them remember that it’s not only them losing profit, they are not an essential service and there is nothing urgent about alcohol usage at all.

Maybe they need schooling that the impact of alcohol is huge and negative in terms of health, the causing of accidents, domestic violence and crime in general.

What benefit will society have to open outlets at this time of life and death? History will charge us for being so reckless as a country.

Mr President, please apply your mind as a responsible leader as you do with the government to curb this deadly virus. For now there is nothing urgent about opening liquor stores. A lot of businesses are also affected and more so, all of us are.

We cannot negotiate drunkenness when the world negotiates how to deal with Covid-19 and save lives.

It cannot be correct to listen to the minority who want to be intoxicated in the name of profit.

Andries Monyane

Our community health workers will be the main defence in rural and dense areas of the country. The health of our nation lies in the hands of these brave and courageous individuals.

In a pandemic like Covid-19, the healthcare workforce is our most precious resource.

We will lose the battle against the virus if we lose our healthcare workers early into the outbreak.

Protect our health workers and frontline responders.

Farouk Araie, Benoni

Lack of trust in the state keeps people on the streets, not poverty As I watch people of Soweto mill about the streets, going about as if all is normal, I remember how Oliver Tambo would send a message from Lusaka and the townships would listen.

Today, the townships have stopped listening to the Union Buildings. I don’t blame them.

I don’t think it’s poverty that makes the citizens deaf to the lockdown rules.

It’s a trust deficit. The warnings about Covid-19 are not taken seriously because we no longer have a uniting factor and purpose. We used to be united against a common enemy.

Our option is to prevent people from getting infected. Stay home is the best medicine. Stay home and live. This country needs you to help rebuild the economy. More than 15-million Americans lost their jobs in just three weeks. The number will be higher here. We need real business people to create jobs post Covid-19. Not the BEE types who get shares from businesses they never created.

We need people who know how to build something from scratch. People like Richard Maponya, Dan Qeqe and Wendy Luhabe, who started businesses and didn’t depend on handouts.

This virus is an opportunity for South Africa to reflect on what went wrong in the past 25 years. An economy that excludes the poor and less connected.

And leaders who steal from the citizens and then use taxpayers’ money to defend themselves in court.

Dr Lucas Ntyintyane, by email

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

Opinion 17

The fire-ravaged Soshanguve High School and other schools that had been attacked nationwide are the evidence that thugs do not suspend their operations just because it’s lockdown time. / T H U L A N I M B E L E

Lack of foresight in planning abled opportunistic criminals Covid-19 lays bare the state’s lack of understanding that criminality never pauses for such niceties as patriotism Criminals are not citizens who may made of the same turn on them in the stuff that ordinary defence of property citizens are; they and self, suddenly are daring and have fear a deadly virus? a way of silencing As the executive their internal contemplated instifears and Nompumelelo tuting lockdowns consciences to that would disrupt Runji carry out ghastly Critical Take social, political and deeds. economic life, they A pandemic was never should have made room for going to be the panacea to the possibility of a surge in SA’s crime situation. criminal activity as part of Why would people who proper scenario planning. don’t fear the prospect of The appearance of going to prison or of coronavirus did not have the imminent death by a gun effect of pressing the pause shot from police, security button on other societal personnel or gun-owning problems. Instead, Covid-19

has just made the country’s challenges to be more apparent.

Inequality – social, spatial, income and wealth – is unsustainable and is in fact at the root of many social ills and challenges including growing poverty, uneven access to public goods such as health, food insecurity in many households, gender disparities that disadvantage women as well as violence and rampant crime.

Planning is a very important competence in governance. And a big part of the exercise of planning is having foresight, it involves

forward thinking and forecasting in order to prepare for a variety of scenarios and eventualities.

Responding to the Covid-19 crisis required the government to be quick footed. But that is not an excuse for a failure to prepare for a scenario where criminals opportunistically target certain infrastructure as well as public and private property during lockdown.

Decrying the wave of crime during lockdown, in his weekly letter President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote: “That public property is being vandalised while the entire country is experiencing hardship because of the lockdown, is a demonstration of utter disrespect and disregard for the majority of

South Africans who are lawabiding.

“It is despicable that criminals are using this period of the lockdown as a cover to break the law at a time when our law-enforcement authorities are occupied with supporting the national effort to contain the pandemic.”

Our president truly has faith that all citizens are patriotic and can put aside their selfish inclinations and criminal intent for the good of the country at a critical moment.

And we would have hoped that the president was right.

Unfortunately, inclinations towards evil cannot be suspended by the mere declaration of a lockdown.

It is foolhardy to rely on the good will of syndicates and thieves to take a break in solidarity with the rest of society, when they in fact have demonstrated disdain and deep disrespect for communities, businesses and the government during normal times.

Criminals see opportunity in the fact that law enforcement is focused on enforcing Covid-19 regulations.

The widespread targeting of schools for torching and burglaries across the country as reported in the media, and theft of cables and vandalism of Eskom infrastructure is not a new occurrence.

The coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns that have been put in place in response to it are telling us that we need to address the conditions that give rise to the violence and crime in our society.

This may be more important than fixing the country’s intelligence collection, crime prevention and law enforcement because those interventions merely deal with the symptoms and not the cause.

■ Comment on Twitter @NompumeleloRunj

Mental health needs extra care during this trying time

By Nontembeko Bila

The SA government has put in place measures focused on containing the Covid-19 outbreak, including school closures, remote working policies, and restricting domestic and international travel.

While this is a responsive step, it is important that interventions should also focus on prevention and ensuring that the healthcare system is adequately equipped to respond to the growing demand to access mental healthcare services.

The Covid-19 pandemic poses an urgent threat to both the physical welfare of individuals and the collective economic health of our communities. But there is also a looming mental-health crisis just waiting to erupt.

There are acute mental-health issues: people in addiction recovery without access to physical meetings, economic anxiety from job losses, financial instability and business

closures, depression fuelled by physical seclusion, feelings of isolation, loneliness, panic and fear.

For those who suffer with anxiety disorders such as obsessivecompulsive disorder, agoraphobia and panic disorder, the virus has inadvertently validated many of the fears they have long worked to counter as irrational. Imagine years of therapy to train your brain out of the thought that something bad will happen if you do not wash your hands seven times, only to be suddenly bombarded with messages about the critical importance of washing your hands. Then add on the realisation that you cannot find hand sanitiser anywhere.

People in quarantine may experience boredom, anger, and loneliness. Symptoms of the viral infection such as a cough and fever are also likely to cause worsening anxiety.

For an example, after testing positive for Covid-19, two doctors from Limpopo followed protocol and selfisolated.

Nevertheless, on Thursday April 2 2020, a contingent of men in masks, supported by police, arrived with a court order and dragged them off to a hospital isolation ward – on the orders of the Limpopo health MEC. This may well be an infringement on the rights of these doctors. They were also blamed for introducing the virus into the province. This action is contrary to the World Health Organisation statement that “people affected by Covid-19 have not done anything wrong, and they deserve our support, compassion and kindness”.

Social distancing may leave many people feeling disconnected and lonely. Social distancing need not necessarily mean social isolation.

Remain in contact with loved ones via telephonic or digital means.

Much has been said about Covid19’s effects on people with under lying health conditions and immune suppression, but not so much about people living with mental illness. Yet

those are among the most vulnerable people in society and face widespread stigma.

The direct relationship between a pandemic and rising levels of mental health problems must not be overlooked. Even for people without pre-existing mental health conditions, this is a particularly uncertain and distressing time.

There must be appropriate mental health and psychosocial support.

Particular focus should be on people with the virus itself, and health workers on the frontline. An integrated care approach, which pairs mental wellness with emergency medical responses, is needed. In the meantime, there are resources to help mental wellbeing.

The SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) (0800 456 789), Lifeline (0800 150 150) and the SA Federation for Mental Health (0800 121 314) all have helplines to call.

■ Dr Bila, Department of Social Work & Criminology, University of Pretoria

18

Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

SowetanMoney money@sowetan.co.za

By Laura du Preez

Many companies that have run into financial difficulties and those whose staff are on unpaid leave, short-time or reduced salaries as a result of the coronavirus lockdown, are looking to suspend or reduce contributions to companysponsored pension and provident funds.

If your employer implements such a measure, it will compromise your retirement savings and the pension you will derive from it, but it may be better than the company having to close its doors or retrench its staff.

It may also be a trade-off for you, as an employee who wants to increase your take-home pay if your pay has been cut.

Whatever happens to your employer, however, remember that the money you have already saved in your fund is safe.

Your retirement fund is a separate legal entity and your savings in it cannot be accessed by your employer, regardless of what decisions are made about future contributions to the fund.

Your savings in pension and provident funds, including umbrella pension and provident funds will also be protected if your employer goes out of business, Saleem Sonday, head of group savings at Allan Gray, says. Umbrella funds are single funds for multiple businesses with standardised rules and a professional board of trustees – will also be protected if your employer goes out of business, Saleem Sonday, head of group savings at Allan Gray, says.

A company that is still functioning is obliged to keep paying contributions to your fund.

The only exception is when the rules of your fund allow your

Are your retirement savings safe during lockdown?

Ensure your employer is contributing employer or you to reduce or suspend contributions, when your employer has made an agreement with you to do so and the trustees have agreed to allow this, Sonday says.

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has promised to assist funds which do not have such rules to get these in place quickly.

Muvhango Lukhaimane, the Pension Funds Adjudicator, says while the relief for employers is welcome, it is important that the trustees approving payment holidays remember their duty of care or fiduciary responsibilities to the members and funds.

Trustees should check if the employer is indeed in financial difficulty by looking at its financial statements, setting a time frame for the concession and/or a plan to catch up on the contributions after the contribution holiday, she says.

The adjudicator’s office is aware that some employers that are not in financial distress may also, wrongly, want to use this opportunity, she says.

If your company does reduce or suspend its contributions to the fund, both it and the fund inform you.

Your employer should also inform you whether it is paying your group life and disability insurance premiums because if these are not paid, your group life cover will lapse which could have a devastating effect on families who

need to claim.

The FSCA, insurers and administrators have all appealed to employers not to let group life cover lapse.

Sonday says there have been some alarming cases in the recent past where distressed companies have not paid their employees’ retirement contributions and have failed to inform employees.

Lukhaimane has chided many funds that have failed to help members recover outstanding contributions from employers and pension lawyers have had some successes when attaching the assets of company directors and even municipalities.

Sonday says you should

keep an eye on your fund statements to ensure your employer is paying over your contributions.

If you or your employer suspend your contributions for a while, it could affect the tax you pay on your earnings because you will no longer enjoy the tax deduction.

If your employer stops paying contributions for you into a group retirement annuity (RA), the fund is in your name and you can continue to contribute as long as you are able and claim the tax back at tax year-end, Sonday says.

However, if your employer shuts down or is placed in business rescue, you have the option to either withdraw your savings – which has high tax implications – or preserve your savings, either in the fund

or by transferring the money to another fund, Sonday says.

He says while losing your job is a shock that can cause you to make emotionally charged decisions, withdrawing a small portion of your pension or provident fund should be a last resort.

If you have been investing in a retirement annuity, you will not have access to your funds before age 55 unless you retire early due to ill-health.

Andrew Crawford, retirement fund consultant at Seshego Benefit Consulting, says if your employer temporarily stops contributing to your retirement fund, it will lower your final savings amount and the impact will depend on the amount not paid, your investment returns and your years to retirement.

With the current lockdown due to Covid-19, many companies that have run into financial difficulties are looking to suspend or reduce contributions to companysponsored pension and provident funds. /123RF

Now is the time to brush up on your money management skills Short courses help you manage better

By Ntokozo Khumalo

The extended national lockdown could be the perfect opportunity for you to brush up on your personal finance knowledge and skills – statistics from the University of Cape Town’s SA Labour and Development Research unit show fewer than 45% of South Africans are financially literate.

Brett Cameron, the head of Old Mutual Rewards, says it is well known that many South Africans are bad at managing money, but being proactive and learning how to manage it better can turn this around.

“April just so happens to be financial literacy month, an annual reminder of the importance of cultivating financial habits.

It’s the ideal time to take stock of your finances, learn new money skills and plot your goals,” he says.

Old Mutual offers you rewards, which you can turn into money if you do one or more of its personal finance courses at https://secure.rewards.oldmutual.co.za/web/om/home. The programme is open to everyone, even if you are not an Old Mutual client, and allows you to earn points for smart financial choices.

“Every 10 points earned equals R1 – real money you can spend at more than 20 retail partners, donate to charity or invest in an Old Mutual product,” Cameron says.

The offering includes a financial wellbeing programme with a range of educational tools, including short videos, quizzes, calculators and assessments, earning you 135 points or R13.50 for getting the basics right. Learning to work on your budget and requesting a free credit score is worth 100 points, while downloading the 22seven app, which helps you track your bank account transactions, savings and investments, is worth R14 or 140 points. Old Mutual also offers a wealth building course on Moneyversity, which earns you 750 points to learn anything

from saving for retirement to investing in property at beginner, intermediate to advanced levels.

Indie, the new life assurer within Sanlam, has a series of short money lessons (https://www.sanlamindie.co.za/learn) grouped in topics like Understanding Money, Money How To’s and Understanding Debt. Peter Castleden, CEO at Sanlam Indie, says the content is intended to empower you to better equipped to save more, spend less and prepare adequately for the future.”

The life assurer recently incentivised South Africans to participate in a fourweek wealth challenge with a financial prize. It plans to repeat the challenge soon. The challenge involves an initial wealth check, followed by e-mails that outline an action plan to improve your current financial state. It then recommends some steps to take to improve your financial wellness, Gretchen Pletschken, head of content at Sanlam Indie, says.

1Life also has a free financial education platform called The Truth about Money.

Its resources give you insights on everything from debt counselling to estate mediation and the company also offers a financial education course that you can complete at any Boston Campus.

Applicants are evaluated based on needs, the motivation you put forward and the funding 1Life has available.

Students can listen to 10 podcasts from the Professional Provident Society to tackle issues they need to know about money. The 10-part Money Matters series has episodes with relatable, fun titles like Ice Ice Baby and Things Stokvel Apart.

The podcasts are available on Apple iTunes, Spotify, Google podcasts and PPS’s website.

Short-term loan provider Wonga’s Money Academy’s (www.moneyacademy.co.za) free video lessons on how to manage your debt, savings and investments are based on what it says are the four pillars of financial planning: debt, saving, budgeting and investing, with each topic helping you decipher how to make more informed financial decisions.

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

YourMoney

Property can be your best and worst investment

Monitor your expenses

By By Angelique Ardé

As the head of financial education at Old Mutual, it’s John Manyike’s job to help us manage our money better. He does it with loads of passion and a healthy dose of humility, having learnt from his own mistakes with money.

Speaking to Sowetan as part of our Money Habits series, Manyike describes his relationship with money as “progressive”.

“I’m still learning. As much as I provide commentary on personal finance, money is a very broad subject. You keep learning,” he says.

“But it’s not only about having knowledge. It’s about application. If you don’t apply the principles, you won’t get the desired outcome. I keep learning to apply the knowledge.”

Manyike, who has a bachelor of administration majoring in industrial psychology, and a postgraduate BAdmin degree, made his first investment about 20 years ago when he bought a bachelor flat which he decided to occupy with two of his friends.

“I used the rent my friends paid me to pay the bond.

That’s when I realised it’s easy to make money from property if you derive rental income.

“I sold the flat some years later and made a decent profit.

I then bought a two-bedroom property for R200,000 and sold it 12 months later for about half a million. I went on to buy a three-bed apartment and two years later made about R150,000 profit from that property.”

Ironically, property has also been his worst investment.

“In 2007, I invested in a property investment scheme and made the mistake of not doing background checks on the developer, bond originator and property itself.

“My co-investors and I relied on the banks to do these checks. It turned out to be a nightmare and put me in serious debt.

“It took me years to recover from it, and I’m still dealing with it to some extent, but I learnt that before you invest, you need to do your homework. You can’t focus only on the potential profits. You must interrogate the scheme itself before you dive in.”

Manyike says the best money advice that he didn’t take was to save his pension when he moved jobs back in 2004.

“When I resigned, I was advised not to take my pension. I ignored it and used the money to buy a brand-new car, which depreciates in value.

“Years later I regretted that decision. I should have preserved my pension – it would have put me in a much stronger position in terms of my retirement provision.

19

Financial educator John Manyike says property is a viable investment option and that learning about how to use money to work for you is a lifelong process of learning. / SUPPLIED

‘Money knowledge without action will lead to nothing’ “I’ve had to make plans to cover that gap and now I encourage others not to make the same mistake I made.

“Many South Africans are at risk of retiring into poverty because they never saved enough while they were working.”

The son of working-class parents, Manyike says he was never taught how to save.

“Money was almost a taboo subject [in our home]. I learnt through observation about consumption, consumerism and materialism. But as I grew up, I realised that’s not the best way to do it.

“I wish my late parents had taught me about saving. I don’t think they were savers. That said, my mom was good at planning.

“She was a domestic worker before she took up sewing as an occupation. She knew how

to manage money, though she never talked about it. It was amazing how she provided for her children.”

Manyike and his wife have seven children between them – three living with them. In a bid to teach them how to save, they have started incentivising their two youngest to hang on to their “tooth fairy money”.

Part of the idea is to teach children that the tooth fairy isn’t real, whereas money is.

“Every time they lose a tooth, we put money into a little plastic money bag and keep adding to it. They get excited to see it growing. Once the money gets to a certain amount, we’ll take them to the bank to deposit it.

In December they’ll get to decide what they want to do with it: reinvest or spend it.”

Manyike says while he doesn’t have any money wor-

ries, he and his wife want to leave an inheritance for their children and grandchildren.

To make sure they do, the couple has life cover in addition to group life benefits.

“What we leave for them is mainly a foundation. But if there’s no plan, it won’t help them. So we have a will, too.

A practising Christian, Manyike says he’s not defined by what he owns. “I’m very measured when it comes to spending money,” he says.

“South Africans generally struggle to set a vision supported by a financial plan. If you don’t have a vision, it’s easy to misuse money because you aren’t aiming at anything. People who have a vision are motivated to save towards it.

“Let your budget and income streams talk to the vision you want to achieve.”

Monitoring is key to lock down your spending while in lockdown. If there’s a winning money habit we all need right now in the midst of the lockdown, it’s to “monitor, monitor and monitor”, says John Manyike, head of financial education at Old Mutual.

In the same way that the government is monitoring the numbers – the number of people who’ve tested positive for Covid-19, the number of people recovering, and the number of lives lost – so too must we monitor our own numbers so that we can make informed decisions, he says.

“From a personal finance perspective, we need to monitor our budgets. If you’ve never budgeted before, now’s the time to start to monitor all expenditure.”

Take airtime and data, for example. “If you’re on contract you can easily end up with a huge bill after lockdown if you aren’t monitoring your usage.

“Monitor food consumption. We eat more when we’re at home. Monitor use of electricity and water because they can be costly.

We also need to monitor our relationships with our creditors. If you know you aren’t going to be able to service your commitments, be proactive. Don’t sit back.

“Monitor your relationship with your money.

Your bank statement is the best place to start to look at your spending. Or download a budgeting tool like 22seven. Monitoring is key.

We are in uncharted territory, so we have to live by monitoring and making informed decisions based on what is happening.”

He says that while most of us are likely to be benefiting from reduced transport costs because we aren’t going to work, many of us are spending more on food, which we need to watch.

For those who are responsible for members of our extended family, now may be the time to have an open conversation about what you can afford to give.

Manyike says if there’s one mistake you need to avoid, it is to dump your financial adviser. “I would encourage you to speak to your adviser. Any decision made in a state of panic, in haste or in the absence of advice is not a sound decision. So don’t just disinvest.

You will regret it later.” Angelique Ardé

20 Entertainment

Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

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

Taurus April 21 — May 21

SABC1

Today Mercury moves into your sign, which means you will be more talkative in the next two weeks. You want to enlighten others about your point of view.

14:00 Selimathunzi 14:30 Teenagers on a Mission 15:00 Degrassi 15:30 YO.TV 16:30 Ispani 17:30 Siswati/Ndebele News 18:00 Instapreneurs 18:30 Skeem Saam 19:00 Xhosa/Zulu News 19:30 Throwback Thursday 20:00 Generations: The Legacy 20:30 Uzalo 21:00 One Day Leaders 22:00 Mzansi Insider

Taurus April 21 — May 21 Your ability to research and look for solutions to old problems will be excellent in the next two weeks because Mercury is moving into this hidden part of your chart.

Gemini May 21 — June 22 Expect to be in contact with younger people more than usual in the next two weeks. This might occur within a group or club.

Cancer June 22 — July 23 You will talk to bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs in the next two weeks because you want to get your point of view across. This increased interaction could bode you well.

SABC2

14:00 Magnum 15:00 Sid The Science Kid 15:30 Yo.TV Mini - Yo TV Land 15:45 YO.TV Ilitha Lethu 16:00 Cave Quest 16:30 Hectic Nine-9 17:00 Naruto 17:30 Venda/Tsonga News 18:00 7de Laan 18:30 Nuus 19:00 Beter Assie Bure 20:00 Sesotho/Setswana News 20:30 Tri.A.Logue Aka Triple Threat 21:00 Muvhango 21:30 Bone Of My Bones 22:00 Prison Wives

Leo July 23 — Aug 24 You will find it easy to study in the next two weeks, which means you can finish papers or manuscripts. You might also do the necessary research for future travel.

Virgo Aug 24 — Sep 23 You will make headway when dealing with inheritances, wills, insurance issues and shared property because Mercury will be in this part of your chart. Do it!

Libra Sep 23 — Oct 23 Mercury will be opposite your sign for the next two weeks, which will give you a chance to clarify and explain important issues to those who are closest to you.

Scorpio Oct 23 — Nov 23

SABC3 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00

For the next few weeks, you will be hands-on with whatever you're doing, either at work or in your own personal endeavors. Expect to be super productive!

Sagittarius Nov 23 — Dec 22 You will be in a playful frame of mind in the next two weeks.

Expect to spend more time doing puzzles, playing games -doing anything that requires mental agility. You also will feel prankish!

14:00 The Wild 14:30 Peppa Pig 14:35 Care Bears: Unlock the Magic 15:00 Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu 15:30 Spirit Riding Free 15:55 Trolls: The Beat Goes On! 16:20 Judge Judy 16:45 Days of our Lives 17:30 Bittersoet 18:30 news - COVID-19 Update 18:55 Masterclass on Wealth 19:00 Rhythm City 19:30 Scandal!

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

SOWETO TV 14:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30

Kasi Vibes Kasi Vibes Babize Bonke Dlala nge Ringas Pop Corner Soweto Business Line Soweto TV News

mosimanem@sowetan.co.za

Capricorn Dec 22 — Jan 21

1``2`3~~4`5`6 `~~`~`~~`~`~` 7`````8~9```` `~~`~0```~`~` -=``~~`~q``w` ~`~`~~`~`~~`~ e```r````t``` ~`~~`~`~~`~`~ y`u``~`~~i``o `~`~p``[~`~~` ]````~\`````` `~`~`~~`~`~~` a````~~s`````

Aquarius Jan 21 — Feb 20

Birthdate of:

Pisces Feb 20 — Mar 21 You will be more concerned with business and commerce in the next few weeks. You might be shopping more as well because Mercury will be in your money house!

etv

Crossword 3152

You might want to intellectually withdraw in the next four weeks. You will certainly avoid confrontations because you will seek some privacy.

Group discussions will be lively in the next few weeks. Expect to meet new people, take short trips and be more involved with relatives and neighbors.

At The Table Hardball Little Lunch Hectic On 3

16:30 Judge Faith Jenkins Court Show 17:00 The Backstory 18:00 The Profit 19:00 Isidingo: The Need 19:30 The Fashion Hero 20:30 At The Table 21:00 News 21:30 El Chapo 22:30 High Rollers

Jennifer Garner (Actress)

What toWatch Muvhango Vho-Masindi wants to take drastic measures to get Azwindini (Gabriel Temudzani) back on the throne. Marang has to deliver the bad news to Meiki when Lesedi ends up in hospital SABC2:21:00

19:00 Africa Eye 20:00 Alleluia Ministries Int 21:00 Reggae Vibes 21:30 According to the Bible 22:00 Apostle Mohlala

Mzansi Magic

14:00 Second Chances 15:30 Lokshin Bioskop: Please Say Please

ACROSS 1 Roman god of agriculture and vegetation (6) 4 Long seat for seating more than one person (5) 7 Variant; adaptation (7) 9 Replica (5) 10 Edge between pavement and roadway (4) 11 Calendar year (4) 13 Standard of perfection (5) 15 Orbit with an altitude of 2,000km above earth’s surface (3,5,5) 18 Stage decoration; scenery (5) 20 Merriment (4) 22 Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation (4) 24 Plural of opus (5) 25 Pendent of the ear (3,4) 26 Slip (5) 27 Sky personified as the god (6)

17:00 The Talk 18:00 Ngeculo 19:00 The River 19:30 Gomora 20:00 Papa Penny Ahee 20:30 Isibaya 21:00 The Queen 21:30 Tholaborethe 22:35 The Doctors

DOWN 1 Shrewdness and practical knowledge (5) 2 Rapid rise or swell (7) 3 Narrow recess (4) 4 Italian: young child (7) 5 Poke gently (5) 6 Meat from animals killed according to Muslim law (5) 8 Bring about by discussion (9) 12 Run away secretly in order to get married (5) 14 _ in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll’s novel of ‘fantasy and literary nonsense’ (5) 16 Base for military aircraft (3,4) 17 Finery; trappings (7) 18 Gloat (5) 19 Inexpensive (5) 21 Winning same as amount staked (5) 23 Control And Display Unit (4)

Yesterday’s solutions ACROSS 1 Mars 4 Jupiter 7 Cohabit 8 Leafy 9 ASE 10 Eden 11 Jeopardy 15 Coalesce 19 Aeon 21 TNT 22 Pacer 23 Conical 24 Back pay YAEA.

YOU BORN TODAY Youare confident and responsible, and you require a loving partner. Because this is a year of teaching and learning, you will learn something that sets you in a new direction, which could be crucial for your success next year. Why not explore meditation, yoga or any discipline that will help you get a better understanding of who you are? Explore something new.

DOWN 2 Aboard 3 Seasonal 4 Jet age 5 Pile up 6 Enfold 10 Etc 11 JAS 12 OBE 13 Alacrity 14 Yen 16 Ottava 17 Entrap 18 Catchy 20 Octave

Pantsula

Victoria Beckham (Designer/Singer)

Sean Bean (Actor)

Tomorrow’s Weather Pretoria 13-25

Sifiso Yalo

Johannesburg 10-22

Polokwane 17-23

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

Nelspruit 16-24

Mafikeng 12-28

Bloemfontein 4-23

Kimberley 8-27

Cape Town 15-19

East London 14-24

Durban 18-24

Sport 21

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

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Tour de France which is also known for showing the country’s attractions like the Arc de Triomphe in this image, has been delayed. / R E U T E R S / G O N Z A L O F U E N T E S

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Tour de France put on ice by viral outbreak New dates for cycling premier event revealed Paris – The Tour de France will be raced from August 29 to September 20, organisers announced yesterday, postponing cycling’s flagship event originally slated to start on June 27 due to the coronavirus lockdown.

The new dates follow French President Emmanuel Macron’s extension of a ban on large public gatherings until mid-July.

While the news comes as a relief to professional cycling teams and fans, it also moves the three-week race out of its traditional slot in the summer holidays where roadside crowds of around 12 million would be expected to gather in festive spirit.

“Following the president’s address on Monday evening, where large-scale events were banned in France until midJuly as a part of the fight against the spread of Covid-19, the organisers of the Tour de France, in agreement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), have decided to postpone the Tour de France to Saturday 29th August to Sunday 20th September 2020,” a statement from the organisers said.

It said the race would follow the same route as the original itinerary, starting in Nice and ending in Paris.

The new date solves a series of problems after organisers faced up to the reality that the race could never take place on the original dates. Top cycling teams will survive economically, social distancing will be easier without massive crowds, and the 4,500 strong Tour de France rolling caravan can be more easily put up in hotels outside August.

With the Tokyo Games and football’s Euro 2020 both delayed by a year, the Tour is the last major event remaining on the summer sports calendar.

Elite cycling will breathe a huge sigh of relief as the Tour accounts for most of its earnings.

The Tour will provide a daily fix for deprived sports addicts the world over, with millions of armchair fans able to tune in daily, including those still working from home.

Organisers Amaury Sports Organisation had stubbornly refused to cancel the event, and while the new date is later than expected, it now gives them time to stage the warm-up Criterium du Dauphine – held annually ahead of the Tour but postponed this year due to the coronavirus. – AFP

22 Sport

Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

Sascoc ‘suspends’ Hendricks Acting president accused of abusing his power

By Neville Khoza

Barry Hendricks has been suspended as Sascoc’s acting president amid allegations of abuse of power.

According to a board member who asked to remain anonymous, Hendricks was suspended because he was abusing

Sascoc’s Barry Hendricks. /

WESSEL

O O ST H U I Z E N /GA L LO I M AG E S

his power as the president of the sports umbrella body.

Sascoc received a complaint from Ntambi Ravele of Tennis South Africa (TSA) accusing him of using dirty tactics in the run-up to elections that were initially set to take place last month.

It is also understood that he was suspended for writing to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) without the board’s approval, requesting that the elections be conducted online after they had been postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.

In February, Ravele wrote a letter of complaint to the minister of sports, Nathi Mthethwa, where she requested him to investigate alleged unethical conduct by Hendricks and TSA president Gavin

Crookes. It was alleged that Hendricks didn’t support Ravele’s nomination as a presidential candidate.

Athletics SA president Aleck Skhosana also said his nomination was removed illegally. The matter is set to be brought before the arbitrator later this month.

Asked for comment yesterday, Hendricks said he was not aware that he was suspended.

“I haven’t received any formal notification that I have been suspended,” Hendricks insisted. “That’s my statement for now.”

Sascoc acting CEO Ravi Govender

could not confirm or deny that Hendricks was suspended, only saying he was just coming from a board meeting and needed time before he could comment.

“I’m getting several calls from media about that and I won’t bother to ask you where you got the information [from],” Govender said.

“But the board just came out of a meeting and I’m still working on all the resolutions of the board. I don’t want to comment on that until I have gone through all the processes of implementing whatever the board has agreed on. I’m not saying it hasn’t happened or it happened.”

I haven’t received notification I have been suspended Chuene Morifi of Sundowns Ladies during the Sasol League Gauteng Roadshow matches at UJ Stadium. / S Y D N E Y M A H L A N GU/ BAC K PAG E P I X

Most women players to miss out on virus grant Safa applied relief for those not fully employed by it

By Mahlatse Mphahlele

The majority of footballers who play in the Safa National Women’s League face the possibility of missing out from the department of sports’ Covid-19 Sector Relief Fund.

Last month sports minister Nathi Nthethwa committed R150m to assist athletes who were confirmed to participate at events that have been cancelled or postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

Athletes were asked to produce proof of their cancelled events by the closing date of April 6 2020 to stand a chance to qualify‚ but an overwhelming majority of players in the Women’s League are set to miss out due to their amateur status.

South African Football Association (Safa) acting chief executive Gay Mokoena said they have applied for relief from government for players and people who are not employed on a full-time basis by Safa.

“We have applied for national team

players and other people who are not employed on a full-time basis at Safa and elsewhere‚” said Mokoena.

“We have applied for members of the technical staff who are not full-time at Safa but only come when there are camps‚ and referees who are not employed elsewhere.

“We couldn’t apply for permanent coaches like Molefi Ntseki‚ who is the coach of Bafana Bafana‚ and Desiree Ellis‚ who is the coach of Banyana Banyana‚ because they’re on Safa payroll.

“There are some Banyana Banyana players who play in the Sasol League and the National Women’s League‚ those we have claimed for them.”

Mokoena said given the qualification criteria for the funds‚ they would have committed fraud had they applied for players who do not draw a salary from Safa.

“We didn’t apply for Women’s National League players because in our books they are not paid‚ otherwise we will be committing fraud‚” he said.

“But their clubs can apply for them if they pay them‚ if I look at the rules of the fund,” Mokoena added.

Sport 23

Sowetan Thursday April 16 2020

‘Leopards won’t cut pay but it’s hard for the club’ PSL will guide us, says Thidiela

By Neville Khoza

Black Leopards can only cut the salary of their players if the Premier Soccer League (PSL) says so to all the teams during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic break.

Expectations are that clubs such as Leopards who don’t have sponsors would suffer should coronavirus crisis be prolonged. But according to Leopards general manager Tshifhiwa “Chief ” Thidiela, the club is not in panic mode.

Lidoda Duvha will be able to pay their players during the break but predict a bleak future.

“The PSL must decide the way forward (regarding salaries). We are fortunate because PSL is run by a board of governors,” Thidiela said.

Kagiso Rabada of South Africa is an IPL regular. / A S H L E Y V LOT M A N / GA L LO I M AG E S

Top players lose out on pay packet

By Khanyiso Tshwaku

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the biggest domestic cricket scalp after the moneyspinning Indian Premier League was suspended indefinitely.

The 13th edition of the world’s glitziest T20 tournament was supposed to start on March 29‚ but with the virus spreading like wildfire‚ the IPL’s governing council moved it to April 15.

Leopards general manager Tshifhiwa ‘Chief ’ Thidiela

“You need the majority saying how we need to handle the situation and that’s the direction we will have to go as a unit.”

With the PSL continuing to pay their monthly grants at least until June, Thidiela added they will continue to make sure their players are paid even if it means they have to dig deep in their pockets.

“These are what teams are used to, they need to dig deep in their pockets so that players are paid,” Thidiela continued.

“But it is going to get worse and now everybody needs to sacrifice something somehow.

If no money is coming in ... how are we going to have money going out?”

Thidiela added that teams are not making profits and that it becomes difficult for teams who don’t have a sponsor to cope.

“Everyone around gets their return except the team owners or the investors in the team because players will get paid.”

IPL major casualty of coronavirus With India’s states all reporting increases in coronavirus cases‚ India’s prime minister Narendra Modi announced a lockdown‚ which has now been extended until May 3.

According to espncricinfo.com‚ the initial tournament was supposed to take place from March 29 to May 24‚ its international summer window‚ which allows the bulk of the tournament to take place with minimal weather interruptions.

The onset of the monsoon season from June onwards and the extreme heat in India

during summer often make for difficult cricket-playing conditions.

The indefinite suspension of the tournament will come as a blow to a number of internationals as the tournament serves as a massive pay packet.

The eight franchises throw obscene amounts of money at international players whom they deem to be of massive value.

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins‚ who would have represented the Kolkata Knight Riders‚ was the most expensive overseas players at

$2.2m (about R40m).

South Africa is generally reasonably well represented at the tournament with the likes of AB de Villiers‚ Quinton de Kock‚ Lungi Ngidi‚ Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada all being starters at their respective franchises.

With the IPL on hold‚ the tournament follows hot on the heels of the South African and Australian domestic seasons being curtailed by the virus.

Those tournaments were already at an end and the disruption proved to be minimal‚ but England’s county cricket season is also at risk.

Ndou urges people to take virus seriously ‘No one is immune to deadly Covid-19’

By Bongani Magasela

Australia-based two-weight former world champion boxer Lovemore “Black Panther” Ndou has warned that public “apathy” over the coronavirus could come with a deadly cost,

Lovemore Ndou, left, throws a punch at Bongani ‘Cyclone’ Mwelase. / A N TO N I O M U C H AV E .

as the pandemic begins to bite in South Africa.

The fighter from Musina, who has turned a lawyer, has lived in Australia for 24 years.

The former IBF junior welterweight and IBO welterweight holder says he has been disturbed by reports filtering from his homeland of “some reckless individuals” believing themselves to be immune

from Covid-19.

Speaking from New South Wales, the 48-year-old Ndou warned that the current coronavirus situation is far from being a joke.

“People need to take this seriously – this thing is not a joke. Some individuals are acting recklessly.

“I’ve seen videos surfacing on Facebook where people are saying it only affects the white population and they intend to carry on with their lives as normal, and ignore measures like social distancing.

“It’s completely wrong and misguided to think that way – this virus doesn’t discriminate whether you’re black or white, old or young, rich or poor.”

Ndou said people must stay at home as they have been told.

“Self-isolating is the best way to contain this thing,” said Ndou, who is planning to return to his roots in the not “too distant future” to pursue a new career in politics in an attempt to “help heal some of the inequalities”.

“South Africa has its own particular challenges and difficulties in dealing with this illness and keeping it in check because of the inherent poverty that abounds,” he added.

“You have people living in squatters in overcrowded conditions, but still people should do their best because if they don’t, they’re not only putting themselves at risk but also others, especially the elderly and those with suppressed immune systems.”

Ndou’s journey from wretched poverty in Musina to Down Under will be told in his soon-to-be-published autobiography. His message for fellow fighters during the pandemic is, “abstain from training in groups until everything settles down, and also refrain from shaking hands”.

Referring to Australia, which has 50 deaths and 6,000 cases, Ndou said: “Children are staying home and we’re home-schooling them.

People in SA should try and do the same, if they possibly can.”

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Thursday April 16 2020 Sowetan

Lukhubeni a beacon of hope for Kraaipan Playing in PSL an honour for Downs man

By Sihle Ndebele

Kaizer Motaung, health minister Zweli Mkhize and Irvin Khoza. / G C I S

Shifting the goal posts

Quick return to action in PSL unlikley

While becoming a regular tops his short-term wish-list, Mamelodi Sundowns rightback Nicholus Lukhubeni is also determined to be a good role model to the people of his hometown of Kraaipan in the North West.

Lukhubeni, 24, is the second professional footballer from Kraaipan, after troublesome Fusi Moalusi, who used to play for Moroka Swallows in the early 2000s.

Moalusi infamously hogged headlines after being arrested near Mahikeng for allegedly robbing a bank in Kraaipan in 2001.

The scarcity of PSL players from his village inspires the Downs full-back prodigy to make the most of the opportunity of playing

Nicholus Lukhubeni of Mamelodi Sundowns.

professionally, aiming to represent Kraaipan with pride to give fellow locals some hope.

“Where I come from, I am the first person to play in the PSL since Moalusi. People back home look at me as a great example [of the fact] that in life you can achieve your goals irrespective of where you come from,” Lukhubeni told Sowetan.

“To be currently the only person playing in the PSL from Kraaipan motivates me a lot. I don’t want to disappoint my community, I want them to always see me as a beacon of hope. I am representing not only myself, but the whole Kraaipan area.”

Lukhubeni made his elite league debut in November last year when Sundowns lost 23 away to Golden Arrows in a league match, where he came off the bench to play just four minutes.

However, it was in his third league match against Chippa United where the lad from Kraaipan announced his arrival in spectacular fashion, grabbing his first top-

/ LEFTY S H I V A MB U/GA L LO IMAGES

Club bosses shift focus to fighting Covid-19 spread

By Gomolemo Motshwane

Judging by their actions in lending a hand in the fight against the coronavirus, club bosses Irvin Khoza and Kaizer Motaung were, in a way, conceding that a long road lies ahead before games can make a return.

It is looking less likely by the day that the Premier Soccer League (PSL) season can be concluded by June 30, as had been hoped.

Khoza and Motaung, both executive members of the PSL, held a televised press conference last night in con-

junction with MultiChoice to announce their pledge in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and the broadcaster announced a donation of personal protective equipment to the department of health.

Questions relating to the resumption of games were deflected as the organisations looked to lend a hand in fighting the health crisis.

“We have identified frontline staff. These are the men and women who have the dangerous job of risking their lives as they deliver critical services to the nation,” Khoza said in the live telecast.

“Not only do they risk their lives saving the nation but they return to their families who are also endangered. We identified this group of workers as

the most deserving of immediate support.

“We will use our channels and resources to amplify the government messaging. Our collective reach is unrivalled and we will do what we can to help.”

The concern at the moment is dealing with the Covid-19 crisis and it will be decided at a later stage what will happen with the league season.

The PSL executive kept mum on the possibility of cancelling the current season or whether it will be completed in months ahead.

Motaung said their clubs were also ensuring that players are protected from the virus.

“Our medical departments are dealing with that issue and we have confidence in the work they are doing.”

flight goal in that 3-0 win in February.

So far, Lukhubeni has made six appearances across the league and the Nedbank Cup. “My main goal is to play more games. I want to cement my place in the team,” noted Lukhubeni.

The defender was promoted to the Sundowns senior team from the club’s feeder side M Tigers, that campaigned in the third tier, last year.

Before joining M Tigers in 2016, Lukhubeni had a brief spell with Highlands Park.

The Downs defender also turned out for the likes of Old Eds, Balfour Alexandra FC and Godisanang FC, among others at amateur level.