Bedfordview Edition
A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS 07 December 2021
www.tametimes.co.za
Ramaphosa To Meet NCCC To Have Vaccine Mandates Concluded Quickly
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Will SA Lockdown Harder Due To Omicron? Health Minister Has His Say
President Cyril Ramaphosa and the National Coronavirus Command Council will meet this week to discuss, among other issues, a report from the task team set up to explore vaccine mandates.
Ramaphosa briefed reporters on Sunday night, after a two-day visit to Accra, Ghana, en route to Senegal for government’s four nations trip to West Africa. During last week’s national address, the president said the committee – chaired by his deputy David Mabuza – was tasked with holding discussions with various sections of society on the feasibility of the move which could see unvaccinated people blocked from accessing certain services. The NCCC could meet as early as Wednesday with Ramaphosa stressing that there needed to be a report on the table as he wanted the vaccines mandates matter concluded quickly. “With the rising wave of infections, we need to act quickly so that Cabinet can take a decision on this matter and of course it could all be slowed down by the intensity of consultations,” he said. He is, however, unsure of the progress of the task team. “The task team is meant to be active and when the NCCC meets, I’m expecting a report from the task team that
With cases on the march and a younger demographic of patients now being hospitalised with COVID-19, some of the jumpier citizens in Mzansi may be wondering if a harder set of lockdown restrictions are coming our way. However, Health Minister Joe Phaahla has taken a rather rational approach to the Omicron variant.
we’ve set up as well as a report from the interministerial committee.” Ramaphosa suggested that public transport and workplaces among others could be limited to only those who are vaccinated when he
addressed the nation last week. Vaccine mandates have been met by backlash in some countries including the US and France – with citizens protesting that it limits their right to movement and other freedoms.
N1 Freeway Reopens After Soweto Residents Blocked It Over Electricity The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) on Monday morning said the N1 freeway around Soweto has been reopened to traffic after a service delivery protest by residents spilt into the busy road.
“The N1 freeway in Soweto has been reopened for traffic to flow, and this is following an earlier protest when the freeway was closed off with burning tyres between Soweto Highway and Rand Show Road in Diepkloof, Soweto,” said JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla. He said the road had been closed by residents of Diepkloof zone 3 with grievances over electricity. “They have been protesting for being without electricity. The protesting crowd has now been dispersed and officers are on the scene,” said Fihla. “Traffic is still heavy on the N1 and we appeal to motorists to be patient at this moment as officers clear the debris on the roadway.” On Saturday, Eskom announced that stage 2 load
shedding would be implemented from 9pm until 5am on Monday morning. The power utility warned that if there was “further deterioration in the power system”, load shedding may be required to be implemented earlier, on Saturday afternoon. Eskom said the load shedding was due to a failure
of a generation unit each at Kusile, Medupi and Arnot power stations, as well as a delay of a unit returning to service at Tutuka power station. There was a reported failure of the coal conveyors at Medupi which led to reduced output at the station. Eskom said that this has been rectified but would “take some time to recover the full operations”.
DOES SOUTH AFRICA NEED A HARDER LOCKDOWN? According to him, South Africa ‘can manage’ the fourth wave – WITHOUT invoking serious lockdown restrictions. Although he says the avoidance of stricter measures is dependent on more people getting vaccinated, Phaahla remains calm: “We can manage this fourth wave. We can manage omicron. We can manage in a way where the government doesn’t have to invoke serious restrictions in the next few days – but more people do need to get vaccinated.” Joe phaahla on the potential for a harder lockdown in sa WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT OMICRON SO FAR… Research released on Thursday shows that the Omicron variant really isn’t here to piss about. The new strain appears to be more transmissible than Delta, and it has been blamed for the explosion of new cases in Gauteng. The rising infection rate has propelled South Africa into a fourth wave of the virus. Hospitalisations, especially in the young, have increased – although early evidence suggests a majority of the vaccinated will only get mild symptoms. HEALTH MINISTER EASES FEARS OVER ‘OMICRON LOCKDOWN’ Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation last weekend, and confirmed that no lockdown restrictions would be tightened, despite the impact of the new variant. That may change in the coming days – as the government weighs up the possibility of mandatory vaccines in some settings – but the Health Minister doesn’t want to see a knee-jerk reaction. Cases are expected to peak in mid-December, before decreasing again ahead of Christmas.
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07 December 2021
Durban Beaches Packed With Maskless Holidaymakers
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) yesterday announced that it had overstated the petrol price adjustment that kicked in at midnight on Tuesday by 6 cents. On Monday, the DMRE announced that the price of petrol for both 93 and 95 ULP and LRP will increase by 81 cents per litre, taking the fuel hike to a record high of above R20 per litre. But yesterday, the department’s director of fuel pricing mechanism, Robert Maake, said the correct petrol price adjustment was an increase of 75 cents per litre, not 81 cents per litre. Maake profusely apologised for the inconvenience, saying it was the first time that such an error had occurred in the history of basic fuel price determination in South Africa. He said the 6 cents difference was due to the fact that the adjustment wages for service station employees had already been implemented in September. “Unfortunately, the department doesn’t even have any
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While KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala on Sunday announced a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases in the province, thousands of holidaymakers were enjoying their time at the beach in Durban. The Mercury published a picture on today’s front page showing the crowds at Wedge Beach near Durban’s Funworld. The picture sparked debate on national TV news channels this morning over when the picture was taken as the holidaymakers were not wearing masks. While KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala yesterday announced an increase in Covid-19 cases in the province, thousands of holidaymakers were enjoying their time at the beach in Durban. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo African News Agency (ANA) African News Agency (ANA) photographer Doctor Ngcobo, who took the pictures, said he had first covered the protest on the beachfront promenade over the seismic survey off the Wild Coast yesterday morning. He later returned to Wedge Beach yesterday to take pictures of the crowds. While KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala yesterday announced an increase in Covid-19 cases in the province, thousands of holidaymakers were enjoying their time at Wedge Beach in Durban. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo African News Agency (ANA) “I wanted to get an aerial shot to show how large the crowds were but I was not able to so I asked the lifeguards on duty if I could climb onto their lifeguard tower on the beach and they allowed me.” Zikalala announced yesterday that the province was in the fourth wave of the pandemic. While KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala yesterday announced an increase in Covid-19 cases in the province, thousands of holidaymakers were enjoying their time at the beach in Durban. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo African News Agency (ANA) According to the Covid-19 statistics for yesterday, the province recorded 687 new cases and has 7 378 active cases.
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FUEL retailers will have to pay refunds, which could come to millions of rand, to motorists who filled up before the government picked up a costly error in the recent petrol price adjustment.
mechanisms to refund people, this is the first time that this happens,” Maake said. “If the retailers have collected this money and there is proof, in my view, as a retailer, I would refund that motorist because the money was not necessarily due to me, it was given to me erroneously. “The department has informed all the stakeholders in the petroleum industry to effect the corrections immediately.” The SA Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia) agreed to comply with the new price structure with immediate effect. Sapia executive director Avhapfani Tshifularo said they were informed of the error by the DMRE late on Tuesday, but it was too late to make any changes by then. “[This error affected the industry] by the sale of fuels between adjustment and correction, retailers sold at a higher price,” Tshifularo said. “Representing the industry, Sapia will discuss this with the DMRE, to explore measures to avoid a recurrence.” Even with the reduced increase, the December fuel price adjustments still push the price of petrol past the R20 per litre mark, biting hard on struggling consumers’ wallets. The Automobile Association (AA) yesterday jumped on this fiasco, saying the error validated its call for a total review, and an audit of all the processes and components which comprise the fuel price. The AA said the fact that daily fuel price updates were being withheld from the public meant there was no transparency in the process of fuel price determination. “While we appreciate that errors occur, the impact of the fuel price on millions of South Africans cannot be underestimated,” the AA said in a statement. “This error, in fact, must be the catalyst for such a review. This supports our view that a review of the fuel price is long overdue.”
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07 December 2021
03
ROUND SQUARE A team of St Andrew’s girls teamed up with girls from Assumption Convent for a Round Square initiative of eradicating alien plants, in this case, whittle on Linksfield Ridge. They also covered the area of Sir George Farrar’s gravesite, which is situated on Milner Avenue in the nature sanctuary. (30 October)
SPCA Thank you, Germiston Bedfordview SPCA, for all that you do to provide safety and shelter for the animals in need. Well done to Junior School’s Farrar House for raising much-needed funds for a very worthy charity! (22 November)
PRINCESS CHARLENE OF MONACO FOUNDATION VISIT “Feeding hungry people, especially children, is one of the most amazing and noblest things we as humans can do.” HSH Princess Charlene. The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa ambassador, Kaiden, together with some girls from St Andrew’s School for Girls recently went out to support the Itemba Feeding Scheme by donating sandwiches. We are so proud of these young people for making a difference in their world by feeding the hungry. (16 November)
NEW PARENTS St Andrew’s School for Girls welcomed the New Parents of 2022 at a special event hosted by our Parents’ Association. All the various departments and different sectors of the school were represented, for new families to meet the Heads and teachers, and have the opportunity to learn more about our wonderful school. (18 November)
Mini Fame Preschool dressup party
PRESCHOOL The end of the year is drawing near, and the Preschool children have been very busy with concert rehearsals, graduation practices, and creative fun for our art exhibition. Our Preschool parents enjoyed a special breakfast with their children on our beautiful playground; and the children had so much fun dressing up as Dinosaurs recently. (16 November) ROWING CHAMPS Some highlights from this weekend’s Gauteng Schools’ Rowing Championships. Congratulations to all the St Andrew’s Crews who raced over the grueling 3 days and finished second in the province! We are so very proud of you all. Thank you to our amazing parents for all their support - we couldn’t do it without you!
Mini Fame Preschool learners enjoyed the last day of school, and went out with a bang having a dressup party and Christmas treats. The learners have been exceptional this year.
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07 December 2021
Tiger Woods Rules Out ‘Full-Time’ Return To Golf:
‘It’s An Unfortunate Reality’ Tiger Woods has ruled out making a full-time return to professional golf as he works his way back from career-threatening leg injuries.
member of the PGA Tour were now effectively over, saying he now expected to “pick and choose” events in future. “I think something that is realistic is playing the Tour The 15-time major winner told Golf Digest that although one day – never full time, ever again – but pick and he is confident of eventually making a return to the sport, choose,” Tiger Woods said. he expected he would only play select tournaments from “Pick and choose a few events a year and you play now on. around that. The 45-year-old former world number one suffered “I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now compound fractures in his right leg after a car he was on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I driving in a Los Angeles suburb in February veered off understand it, and I accept it.” the road and flipped several times. Woods generated buzz earlier this month after posting Before the accident, Woods was already playing a video on Twitter of himself hitting balls, with the caption m u l t i p l e “Making progress.” reduced schedule following surgeries on his back and knee Woods, who completed a fairytale return from back over the years. fusion surgery to capture his 15th major title at the 2019 o n Masters, questioned whether he had the same drive to He told Golf Digest Monday that his return to the pinnacle of his sport. days as a “I don’t have to compete and play against the best full-time players in the world to have a great life,” Woods said. “After my back fusion, I had to climb Mount Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mount Everest and that’s OK. “I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there. “But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.” Tiger Woods meanwhile revealed he had feared that he may have to have his leg amputated in the immediate aftermath of February’s “I think something that is accident. realistic is playing the Tour one “There was a point in time when, I wouldn’t day – never full time, – but pick say it was 50/50, but it was damn near there and choose.”
Marist Brothers Linmeyer School News: A successful Inter-House Swimming Gala On Tuesday, 23rd November 2021, Marist Brothers Linmeyer Primary School hosted its annual Inter-House Swimming Gala and it was a success. Both swimmers and spectators immensely enjoyed the competitive atmosphere amongst the four houses. Congratulations to the following winners: Senior Victor and Victrix Rebecca Kühn (Grade 7) Liam Pearson (Grade 7) Junior Victor and Victrix Eden Jacobs (Grade 4) James Daniel (Grade 3)
if I was going to walk out of that hospital with one leg,” said Woods, who believes he is less than halfway towards a return to fitness. “I have so far to go… I’m not even at the halfway point,” he said. “I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg. At the same time, as you know, I’ve had five back operations. So I’m having to deal with that. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up. It’s a tough road.” TIGER WOODS ADDED HE HAD
BEEN FORCED TO PACE HIS RECOVERY “Being patient and progressing at a pace that is aggressive but not over the top,” he said. “Obviously when I get in the gym and I get flowing and the endorphins get going I want to go, go, go.” Woods’ interview with Golf Digest comes ahead of his first public appearance since his accident at this week’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the 20-man tournament that raises funds for his foundation.
ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS LICENCE RENEWAL APPLICATION FOR KNIGHTS SALES C.C GTEK_000841 INVITATION TO COMMENT AND PARTICIPATE AS AN INTERESTED AND AFFECTED PARTY
Notice is hereby given that Knights Sales C.C is applying for the renewal of their Provisional Atmospheric Emissions License (PAEL) in terms of Section 47 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (No 39 of 2004) (NEM:AQA) with the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality for their facility located at 490 Tedstone Road, Wadeville, Germiston. The facility recycles non-ferrous materials in order to recover and produce aluminum ingots. The facility is a foundry that melts metal and moulds them into various specifications. This renewal application relates to the following Listed Activities bold as published in GN 893, promulgated in terms of Section 21 of the NEM:AQA; Listed Activity
No.4.10
Name of the Listed Activity
Foundries
Description of Activity Production and/or casting of iron, iron ores, steel or ferro-alloys, including the cleaning of castings and handling of casting mould materials.
An application will be submitted to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality upon conclusion of the Public Participation Period. To obtain further information, raise any issues or concerns, or submit any comments, please contact Zantow Environmental Consulting Services at the contact details below within 30 days of this notice. Date of this notice: 07 December 2021
Eden Jacobs, Liam Pearson, Rebecca Kühn and James Daniel.
Karien Zantow Fax: 086 657 3523 Cell: 083 384 3641 Email: karien@zantow.co.za PO Box: 3858, Vanderbijlpark, 1900