People's Post -21 April 2020

TUESDAY 21 April 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za

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COVID-19 SAFETY

Supermarkets pose risk

People’s Post

@peoplespostnewspaper

2

Guide to working from home

4 Government will meet with supermarket chains to discuss the risks of transmission.

SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS SAMANTHA.LEE@PEOPLESPOST.CO.ZA @SAMANTHA_LEE121

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overnment will meet with local supermarket chains to map the way forward, following temporary closures at several stores during the past week.

“A pattern has emerged that a lot of cases that are new have been spread through supermarkets. We are mindful of it and are following up on every single case of each of the supermarkets. Where needed, they had to close for a deep clean,” says head of health, Dr Keith Cloete. “This just shows that gathering in any place, in this case supermarkets, has become a source of spreading the virus.”

Plans have been put in place to meet with all major supermarket chains to protect staff and customers.

Premier Alan Winde says all essential staff are at risk of contracting the disease. To mitigate the risk of infection, provincial government is working on set guidelines to be implemented which may include when to close a

facility, the cleaning process, when it is fine to resume and continue, and how safety is ensured for clients and workers. “We have a guideline of what we want to put in place. One of these is that you must wear a mask when going to the supermarkets,” says Cloete. This is not regulation and will be discussed with supermarkets during the engagement.

He added that they have learnt a lot from the stores that had already closed due to positive cases. These stores have cleaned surfaces and traced all who may have had contact with the positive cases.

Health facilities, grant payout points and testing facilities are also of concern as they are places where people gather.

“We have specific protocols in place for cases in a workplace. The first thing to do is the person must self isolate and everyone in contact must self-quarantine because work surfaces were involved. You must suspend (services) for a period of time to clean so there is a clean environment for uninfected people to resume work. In any instance in any workplace, our team advises the companies to follow the same response,” says Cloete.

Stationery ‘essential’ NETTALIE VILJOEN “And I say, hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah; I said hey, what’s going on?”

Like the early-90s rock band 4 Non Blondes, many residents, and it seems retailers too, are confused to what they are allowed to buy (or sell) according to Annexure B of the Disaster Management Act which sets out regulations as to what are to be considered essential goods and services.

With most schools having resumed teaching online last week, questions concerning stationery and IT equipment to support learning have become pressing.

On 16 April, the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma published amendments to the disaster management regula-

tions. None of them, though, specifically touched on education.

Dr Cathy Powell, an associate professor in public law at the University of Cape Town’s faculty of law, says the regulations are so vague that different shops are applying them differently.

“I have been in supermarkets where the stationery was not blocked off; it seems to change from one supermarket to the next,” Powell says.

Responding to an inquiry whether Pick n Pay was allowed to sell stationery, the group said: “We are guided by government’s regulations which outline the categorisation for essential goods that can be sold during the lockdown period. As this is reviewed by the government, we are updating customers.”

A Pick n Pay poster dated 14 April – guid-

Winde adds that businesses have a role to play.

“This is not business as usual. They need to ensure they have the correct practices in place every day,” he says.

He warned non-essential businesses who may have fraudulently applied for permits.

“It is really unacceptable for people using the existing processes to break the rules. The rules say no cooked food and when we get to a point where this is available again, we need to look at if you have the right practices in place and if the food will be collected or delivered,” he says.

With the risk to staff a concern to many essential business owners, Winde says they are able to make a decision on whether or not to close up shop.

“We need businesses to take responsibility for the protection of their workforce but also understand that services are needed to be rendered to the public. We can’t close everything because you start narrowing the pipeline and upping the risk. These are people facing customers and given the correct protection and respect,” says Winde.

ing customers on what non-food products they may purchase – included school and home office stationery supplies; garden seeds, bulbs, pool chemical and insecticides; and decoders and ancillary products, media storage products, ink and toner cartridges and wireless networking products.

PNA, a retailer of stationery, art and craft materials, books and educational books, has thus far been unsuccessful in its attempts to be declared an essential service.

Herman Botha, PNA Group general manager says, the group fully supports that national government is focused on limiting the spread of the Covid-19 virus, but the lockdown has seriously impacted learning and business in South Africa.

He says groups like theirs play a critical part in the supply chain for essential services and people working from home (WFH).

For example, he explains, the sale of connectivity devices, printer cartridges, pens, and notebooks are required to WFH.

Donation to taxi associations

6

Boost for Gift of the Givers

“No doubt, there are excellent online portals for education to continue at home, but we must also concede that many households experience connectivity restrictions and have data limitations,” he says.

According to Botha, PNA has been inundated by posts on its social media platforms from learners in desperate need of art supplies for their matric studies and other stationery to continue home-schooling.

“Not to mention, desperate parents looking for educational activities to do with their children,” he adds.

According to Botha, while the fact that some retail stores are now allowed to sell stationery is a positive gesture, it no way near closes the gap for what students and business owners need right now.

“These retailers mostly sell basic stationery items, as their core business is food.

They are simply not meeting the educational and business needs of South Africans.”

V See page 7

2 NEWS

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 21 April 2020

COVID-19

Workaholics’ guide to lockdown SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS @Samantha_Lee121

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hile the national lockdown continues with minimal changes to its restrictions, People’s Post polled readers on social media to get their work-from-home (WFH) perspectives. While for some this has been a great experience, others are not coping at all.

Darren Atwood, who works remotely for an international company, says working from home has been up and down. “Not having to travel is great. The work times I’m already used to but now you get more sleep and time for yourself because you are basically already at work,” he says. “The most difficult thing so far is the internet speed that is taking a beating from everyone being at home. Also not being able to interact with people face-to-face is a struggle.”

For Dale Williams, a graphic designer, working from home has made him more productive. “We are keeping the company going so we are still getting paid and I am glad for that because there are many who don’t have an income now. My station is set up and I don’t have trouble regulating time because I have set targets and when I am done, I am done. That can be at 11:00 on some days and at midnight on others. The biggest struggle is the distractions of relaxing and leaving work for another day but that did not get to me yet,” says Williams.

Having a family to take care of is the biggest struggle for Letitia Roberts who works in information technology (IT).

“My children are young and they are not

used to seeing mommy at home all day. I am being distracted all day long with screaming and fighting and children crying or wanting to eat. I would work better from home if I could have someone to look after my kids.

I cannot even take them to their grandparents,” she says. “Because of this I am not keeping to my working hours well and end up working longer hours when they are asleep to catch up.”

Devan Moonsamy, chief executive officer (CEO) of the ICHAF Training Institute, says working from home has been difficult for many South Africans.

“Companies who are not classified as essential services have adhered to the lockdown regulations. That being said employees are homebound and under stress about their future at their company,” he says.

“With the stress about what the salary for April will look like there is also concern about productivity. Many employees have opted to work from home. But for some, the luxury of doing this is not possible.”

Moonsamy says there are those who are able to assist customers and keep the wheel turning, but there are also those who are not as fortunate.

“But to the workaholics who have to work with tasks and to-do lists, the period of this lockdown can be stressful,” says Moonsamy.

He shared a few tips for workaholics. . Get locked into a schedule. As much as you are used to having back-to-back meetings and a large to-do list, working from home can make you feel like you have fewer things that need to be done. . Create a to-do list. The list may not be

as detailed as one that you would have had at the office but it should be enough to ensure the tasks that need your most urgent attention are completed. . Check on your other colleagues to see how they are holding up. Speaking about deadlines and other work-related successes will assist you to feel more productive. . Try to use this time to do something to relax. Use this time to also focus on yourself.

Meditate and exercise. This can help you fo-

cus your energy on something else. . Working from home might also not keep you busy the entire day. In this time you could also subscribe to online courses.

There are a number of sites online that offer short courses. . Hit the reset button. Sometimes our todo lists and the need to always have our ducks in a row can be overwhelming. But if we just take some time to reset our system and life, we could be even more productive.

Working from home could be a problem for workaholics who are not self-regulated.

PHOTO:

SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS

Law enforcement nail transgressors of lockdown restrictions With the first three weeks of national lockdown done and dusted City’s law enforcement agencies have had their hands full with enforcing lockdown regulations.

Since the start of the lockdown at midnight Thursday 26 March until Tuesday 15 April, a total of 890 people have been arrested by the City’s law enforcement department for various offences.

JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, says transgressions include the

flouting of lockdown regulations in terms of the Disaster Management Act. “In the past few days, there were also numerous arrests for looting and burglary relating to incidents at liquor stores and small retailers.

“Law enforcement has recorded 44 burglaries at liquor stores, resulting in 45 arrests, as well as 10 arrests in six looting incidents at small retailers,” explains Smith.

Smith adds that looting and protests took place in Tafelsig, Manenberg, Nyanga Junc-

tion, Rocklands and Sherwood Park.

“Some 870 shops and shebeens have been closed after being inspected for non-compliance with lockdown essential services regulations,” says Smith.

He says the following fines were issued by law enforcement officers: . 889 section 341 notices; . 5 141 section 56 notices; . 3 946 lockdown fines; and . 380 compliance notices.

In addition, the City’s Metro police depart-

ment has made 210 arrests under the contravention of Disaster Management Act (57 of 2002) Regulations G/N 318/2020 & G/N 398/2020. Smith says to date officers also confiscated 23 092 units of cigarettes and 529 units of alcohol.

Residents and shop owners are encouraged to contact the police 10111 emergency line or the City’s public emergency communication centre on 021 480 7700 if they witness or experience burglaries or looting of shops, or other acts of criminality.

LETTER People's Post is published by WP Media, a subsidiary of Media24.

WHOM TO CONTACT

EDITOR: Thulani Magazi Tel: 021 910 6500 / 6530 Email: Thulani@media24.com

Show your appreciation for front line I am calling on all residents in the Western Cape to acknowledge those in law enforcement, healthcare, food-related services and other essential services by hanging the South African flag, as recommended by president Cyril Ramaphosa, from your doors and/or windows

during the lockdown period.

If you don’t have a flag, you can hang a piece of cloth of a colour of your choosing to show your gratitude during the lockdown period.

Many countries across the globe are acknowledging those on the front line

SALES MANAGER: Shafiek Braaf Tel: 021 910 6500 / 6615 Email: Shafiek.Braaf@peoplespost.co.za> CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: 087 353 1328 Email: classifieds@peoplespost.co.za PRESS CODE, CORRECTIONS People's Post subscribes to the South African Press Code and we are committed to journalism that is honest, accurate, fair and balanced. Under our editorial policy, we invite readers to comment on the newspaper's content and we correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please send information to the news editor at cecilia@peoplespost.co.za or phone 021 910 6500. Alternately, please contact the Ombudsman of Media24's Community Press, George Claassen at george.claassen@media24.com or 083 543 2471.

Complaints can also be sent to the SA Press Ombudsman on telephone 021 851 3232 or via email khanyim@ombudsman.org.za or johanr@ombudsman.org.za

Find us online www.peoplespost.co.za facebook.com/PeoplesPostNewsPaper twitter.com/ThePeoplesPost peoplespostnewspaper

DR A. A MIA (BChD-U.W.C)

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through a range of activities for hospital staff to applause for those serving on the front line.

Here in the Western Cape, we want to show our appreciation by doing the same and posting it on social media using the hashtag #ThankYouWC and #StopTheSpread.

During the lockdown, we are dependent on the work of those involved in healthcare, law enforcement, farmers and farm workers, to name a few. In a commitment to staying at home and acknowledging the critically important work of those on the front line, I call on all residents to hang the flag or a piece of colourful cloth from your doors and/or windows during the lockdown.

During this period of lockdown, it is essential that we stay at home, continue to practice good hygiene and self-isolation. By doing so, we will ensure not only our safety but the safety of countless others, particularly those who are more vulnerable and have weaker immune systems. I further wish to thank those who are diligently adhering to the lockdown regulations.

Those on the front line are hard at work, ensuring your safety. In turn, you have a duty to stay home and stay safe.

As residents of the Western Cape, it is vitally important that we each play our part, leaving home only when it is vitally necessary to do so, such as buying groceries, visiting the pharmacy, seeking medical attention or collecting a social grant.

ALBERT FRITZ, Provincial minister for community safety

NEWS 3

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 21 April 2020

COVID-19

‘We want to come home’ KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM

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Kensington father says he is hopeful that soon he will be able to hold his daughter in his arms again. John Cloete’s daughter, Charné, and four friends left South Africa on Friday 13 March to go to Thailand on what was meant to be a dream holiday.

But their dream turned into a nightmare when they were informed, two days before their departure date, that their returning flights had been cancelled.

The 24-year-old Charné and her friends – Letasha Ryan (31), Lyle Ryan (30), Jesse-Lee Biggs (25) and Charl Van Wyk (31) – were meant to return to South Africa from their nine-day holiday on Sunday 22 March. On the evening of Thursday 26 March, South Africa went under a nationwide lockdown, placing restrictions on flights entering the country.

John says: “My daughter and her friends were aware of the global Covid-19 pandemic but they were assured by their travelling agency that should anything happen they would be back in time.”

John says when his daughter informed him that their flight was cancelled he immediately went to the home affairs offices in the City Bowl. “Only then did I learn that we don’t have a local office for the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) in Cape Town. I was told that I need to make contact with Dirco’s head office based in Pretoria.”

Cloete adds that after back-and-forth communication with officials at Dirco he made contact with the South African embassy in Thailand, which, according to him, has been

very helpful thus far. He says although he was not given exact dates as to when his daughter and her friends will return, he receives regular updates from the embassy.

“I am in contact with my daughter on a daily basis. The group seems to be doing well, under the circumstances. We just hope and pray that they will be repatriated soon,” says Cloete.

Dirco has said in a press statement that currently more than 2 313 South Africans are stranded abroad due to the outbreak of Covid-19, which led to many countries closing their borders. Of these, 726 are students, 600 people are working individuals, 492 are tourists, and 495 haven’t disclosed any details.

Charné says: “The actual vacation period spent at our holiday destinations in Thailand was an absolutely memorable experience: the natural environment, food and culture of a foreign land. However, the joyful mood quickly changed a day or two just before we were to return home.”

Temporary living in Thailand Charné adds that currently the group, together with several other South Africans stranded there, are staying at an establishment in Kamala, Phuket. “We are buying essentials from the nearest food store, which is, fortunately, within walking distance.

Ready-made meals have become the day-today meal, as it is what we can afford,” she explains.

She says the group feels that they have overstayed their welcome. “Being a foreigner in Thailand during this pandemic is not easy. The locals are starting to look at us differently, some even treating us differently, and this is to be understood. Our presence here has now created a sense of fear from both our side and theirs.”

Charné would like to thank all those who have assisted them. “To the South African government, we are among hundreds of other South African citizens stranded abroad.

We plea for your assistance in bringing us back home,” she says.

The group of five friends who are stranded in Thailand amid the Covid-19 pandemic.PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Breaking bread during nationwide lockdown KAYLYNNE BANTOM A Camps Bay resident, Julian Kriel, is using his new found love for baking to assist the elderly during the nationwide lockdown.

Kriel says when president Cyril Ramaphosa announced the lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19, he immediately thought of the elderly and the underprivileged.

“After the announcement, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and came across this haunting image of an elderly couple waiting in line to pay for groceries, their basket only contained two crates of eggs and a loaf of bread while the carts in front were stacked to the brim. I woke up with it still very much troubling me and started thinking how I could help,” explains Kriel.

He adds that having recently discovered a love for bread baking, he saw it as an opportunity to bake home-made bread for the vulnerable. He is rendering a service free-ofcharge to “anyone who is sickly, elderly or financially strained. I know it’s simple but if even one person needs it, I’m ready to assist,” says Kriel.

He adds that he is willing to meet those in need at a food store in the area, he says.

“I am awaiting official instructions on how we are allowed to leave the confines of our household to go to the shops, but hoping to arrange that anyone near me, on their way to the stores will come past to collect,” he explains.

V Any person who wants to contact Julian Camps Bay resident offering can text him on freshly baked bread to those 060 742 7701. in need during the lockdown.

CARING CITY WE ARE HERE FOR YOU HOW ARE WE HELPING? • • • • • •

Financial assistance is available to residential and commercial property owners Thousands of frontline staff members are delivering essential and emergency services to ensure Capetonians stay safe and healthy Mass community screening under way; healthcare interventions and awareness Water trucks and tanks to enhance access to water in informal settlements Lodging is being provided to thousands of street people and we are even reuniting some with their families An additional spend of over R1 billion expected for enhanced services to vulnerable groups, the local healthcare system, personal protective equipment and various other services that are not being funded by National Government

HOW CAN YOU HELP? • Stay home and keep your distance • Help the vulnerable in your community • Donate essential items: food parcels, vanity packs (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, facecloths, sanitary towels), toilet paper, adult diapers, mattresses, blankets, personal protective equipment

LET’S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. CONTACTS AND INFORMATION • Support: Leave messages of support for all frontline workers: www.capetown.gov.za/coronavirus • Donations: Disaster Risk Management Centre: 021 597 6004 and disaster.donations@capetown.gov.za • Financial assistance: www.capetown.gov.za/coronavirus or phone 0860 103 089

Wash your hands. Keep your distance.

4 NEWS

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 21 April 2020

PPE for drivers

CAPE FLATS

Food relief vs threat to health RACINE EDWARDES RACINE.EDWARDES@MEDIA24.COM @RAEEDWARDES

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ith many of Cape Town’s most vulnerable communities being hard hit by the lockdown, the City of Cape Town, various non-profit and non-governmental organisations (NPOs and NGOs), and concerned individuals have rallied together to provide food for those in need.

But the issue of adhering to social distancing while providing critical food resources to residents on the Cape Flats and other underresourced communities remains a threat to public health as Covid-19 continues to spread.

In a previous interview with People’s Post (“Think about the vulnerable”, 20 March), the founder of the Lavender Hill community upliftment initiative Guardians of the National Treasure, Ralph Bouwers, said they would be doing their part to feed hungry tummies – as responsibly as possible.

“I’ll get an aunty to come from one street and we can give her the food to give to everybody else in the street,” he said, explaining how they would be attempting to keep contact to a minimum.

Over in Simon’s Town, Father’s House – a Christian faith organisation that works with the poor, the vulnerable and homeless people – has attempted to make adjustments to their usual protocol when feeding the needy.

“My family and I have been working with poor communities for about 20 years. When lockdown started, we continued feeding homeless in Jubilee Square – that was 65 people,” says the organisation’s pastor, Shadrick Valayadum.

Once homeless people were transported to Strandfontein Sports Grounds, the subcouncil 19 proportional representation (PR)

SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS @Samantha_Lee121

councillor Patricia Franke reached out to Fa- extra equipment, it will now be able to almost ther’s House to feed the communities in Red- double this number. hill and, later, Ocean View.

In Lavender Hill, Philisa Abafazi Bethu, “I went on the soil and I drew a line and told run by Lucinda Evans, feeds 1500 residents them to each stand at a distance. And it lasted daily and can now boost this number by an for a whole five minutes,” he says, sharing his additional 800.” experience in Redhill.

He told People’s Post that these organisaWhen it comes to enforcing social distanc- tions adhere to proper hygiene standards and ing, he says, it is more than just a challenge. wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

“We’re feeding kids who are two or three “During my visit to Lavender Hill, children years old, so it’s impossible to maintain social lined up in rows with sufficient space bedistancing. But when we get there, we have tween each other to ensure correct social disour gloves and sanitisers and keep things as tancing. hygienic as possible.”

“We have communicated through various At their first outreach in Redhill, on platforms to share this message and repeat Tuesday 14 April, they catered a hot meal – our call to communities to practice social disspaghetti bolognese – to 275 people; and will tancing as it is in their best interests to help continue to do so for the duration of the limit the spread of Covid-19.” pandemic.

On the same day in Lavender Hill, mayor Dan Plato came to the aid of several organisations, providing them with several items to assist them to continue feeding the vulnerable.

He donated a three-plate gas burner, two large cooking pots (100F and 80F) and dry ingredients such as lentils, samp, and beans, and more, from the Mayoral Fund.

According to a City statement, NGOs based in Grassy Park, Atlantis, Mamre, Lotus River, Marikana informal settlement and Lavender Hill received these items.

The statement continues: “In Grassy Park, NGO, Voice of the Voiceless, run by Howard Downes, currently feeds more Father’s House feeds hundreds of vulnerable people in than 300 people daily, but with Redhill who are struggling to get their food supplies during today’s donations and with the the nationwide lockdown.

SOUTH AFRICA, WE’RE AT YOUR SERVICE.

Before the nationwide lockdown, more than 70 000 people passed through the transport interchange in Town Centre daily.

With community transmissions and the constant threat of infection in areas where people gather, the provincial government has stepped in to provide the taxi industry with a needed boost.

Provincial minister for transport Bonginkosi Madikizela distributed 130 bottles of 25F hand sanitisers, 4 140 bottles (to decant sanitiser), 58 boxes of gloves, 8 800 masks, 67 bottles of 25F Germatol disinfection, 67 snopsacks and 54 disposal protective clothing outfits. “As part of my on-going raising of awareness about hygiene on public transport, I distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the taxi industry in Mitchell’s Plain.

The handover forms part of the allocation made to various provinces by the national department of transport, in line with the stipulated national government regulations,” says Madikizela. “The most important thing people need to understand is that hygiene will help us flatten the curve. Masks and gloves will be ineffective if they are not used properly. As the government, we made a commitment that we want to keep our people, especially essential service workers, safe.”

Member of parliament Ricardo Mackenzi accompanied Madikizela to the taxi rank earlier this month. “(This was done) to ensure (taxi associations) sanitise their taxis and observe physical distancing. I was encouraged to see the enthusiasm shown by the taxi industry and they pledged their support to stop the spread and to ensure they transport our essential workers to work. I want to thank minister Madikizela and his team for this contribution to ensure our passengers are keeping safe.”

The donation will be shared with taxi associations across the province.

All of our clinics remain open and we’ve adjusted our operating hours to serve you during lockdown.

If you have coronavirus symptoms such as a cough or fever, visit our website at www.mylifeclinic.co.za to use our free Symptom Checker to assess your COVID-19 risk.

We’re at your service to keep you and your family healthy.

Hand sanitisers available for all consulting MyLife customers.*

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*While stocks last.

www.mylifeclinic.co.za Please visit our website for more information.

NEWS 5

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 21 April 2020

Hearty

TOGETHER WE CAN BEAT THE CORONAVIRUS

6 NEWS

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 21 April 2020

Foundation gets cash boost Gift of the Givers Foundation, the Athlone-based disaster relief non governmental organisation (NGO), received a muchneed boost recently in its battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The NGO received a virtual cheque of R500 000 from retail giant Spar.

Retailer’s regional marketing executive Robert Brink and Alison Zweers, MD Spar Western Cape and Namibia, conducted the handover. While the world’s current focus is on curbing the spread of Covid-19, certain parts of South Africa are even more at risk than others. Be-

cause hand-washing remains a key measure to fight the virus, the retailer believes it is imperative to assist with water relief to the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape which are still suffering from the terrible drought conditions and lack of water for basic hygiene, Zweers says.

Badr Kazi, a volunteer at the foundation, says the donation is much-appreciated. He says it is twofold; in that it will serve all the drought-affected communities with much-needed water and will help people, especially in the indigent areas, to maintain basic hygiene.

SMME

Businesses hit hard SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS @Samantha_Lee121

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s the national lockdown has been extended for another two weeks, some small businesses are now struggling to make ends meet. These businesses do not meet the requirements to receive assistance from the small business relief programme fund set up by government.

In the years leading up to the lockdown, small business ownership was widely encouraged, with many leaving corporate stability to take a chance at starting and growing their businesses, eventually employing others. But now, with their incomes completely halted for the duration of the lockdown, no guarantees that their businesses will recover financially and uncertainty around whether or not there is another extension on the cards, business owners and managers are feeling the pinch and are eager to get back to trading.

SHAQUEEL DAREIS; MANAGER OF A PARTY PLANNING STORE: “Firstly

The Spar Group handed over a virtual cheque to the value of R500 000 to the Gift of the Givers Foundation in Athlone recently.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP It doesn’t require physical contact to lend a helping hand. SMMEs are struggling during this difficult time and need our assistance to preserve jobs.

Giving for Hope has pledged R100 million to help keep South Africans employed and to keep SMMEs running after this pandemic is over.

We call on all struggling SMMEs to apply for a loan with us, with no added interest and cost free. And for fellow corporates to help us reach our goal of R500 million by lending a minimum of R1 million.

Visit www.givingforhope.co.za to find out more.

this pandemic has left me as an individual in a state of panic for the future. The shop I managed had to close its doors the Monday before lockdown, as already no one wanted to have parties or could plan parties.

I was sent home with no work no pay and at this stage, I myself am extremely low on food supplies and all essentials. The company I work for does not do deductions, so not even UIF is an option for me as well as no application for relief was made for the staff. No plans were made to take care of the staff during this time so we all are struggling at this moment. We had no time to prepare ourselves for this lockdown. As a manager of a party shop, running it for four years, I have nothing to show for myself or my family as well as for the staff at this time. Lastly, I am not even sure what the future for our shop holds as I cannot for certain say that the shop will be able to open again after this lockdown.”

JUSTIN GELDERBLOEM; EVENTS COMPANY OWNER: “The lockdown has terminated all opportunities of income for my business, therefore, I am unable to meet any financial obligations of the business such as salaries, expenses and debts. JDG Events is based in Mitchell’s Plain but we service clients throughout the city; providing services for sound, lighting, staging, conferencing, weddings and large or small scale events. The business has been in operation for three years. Unfortunately, there was no time to prepare. Shortly before the announcement of the lockdown, some of my clients postponed their events, and after the announcement all events were cancelled. I am in the early stages of growing my business and I have built up my equipment collection with every profit that I make from events, therefore, no financial reserves are available at this stage. This lockdown is a learning curve which I hope to appropriate when the opportunity to operate re-opens. I have applied for business relief but to date no feedback has been received. A developing strategy is in process as government provides more information in the coming weeks. For now, lots of marketing will help to make people aware of my services when they are ready to commence with event planning.

I am also looking at pricing strategies to make JDG Events’ services affordable after the lockdown, since everyone will be recovering financially.”

JASMINE PAGE; INFORMAL TRADER: “The lockdown has affected me financially. I sell a commodity of sweets, chips, cooldrinks, party packs, prepared foods, fruit and vegetables. I have been in this business for the past 17 years. I did not have enough time to prepare and put things in place so that I could survive this lockdown. The president said in his address that there is a safety net for the informal sector but to date, nothing has materialised. The small business development fund that was created to assist the small businesses, the informal sector, does not meet the qualifying criteria. We were given the opportunity to trade but with restrictions in place.” Page says with the restrictions, gates to their trading section being closed and the taxis only operating at limited times have made it difficult to trade and provide for their families.

LESLENE PETERSEN; FOOD HAMPER DISTRIBUTOR: “I can’t go buy the amount of stock I used to buy for my customers. I am based at home and I sell food items until month end. I have been running this for the past three years now. I was not prepared for this lockdown,” she says. She delivers grocery and food items to the doorsteps of her customers but cannot do so due to lockdown regulations and lack of supply. “We can’t drive or do anything for them.” Petersen says once the lockdown is over she will be back up and running. “I am losing two months’ income now due to the lockdown but we are getting by. I am just staying positive and praying that everything goes back to normal and all the small business owners can start supporting their families again.”

GABIBA ALLIE; TOMBSTONE MANUFACTURER: “This lockdown honestly has caught me unexpectedly. Yes, I was aware of what was happening but did not think we would get to where we are now. We had no preparations whatsoever and it has brought all my work to a standstill and a dead end where my income is concerned, just like that – baring in mind that it was my only source of income and plenty of bills need to be paid. I started a tombstone business in 2017 and have been working from home since then. We have managed to register our business in February 2018 and I have four employees who work with me. All of us do not have any other income. We work extremely hard to make a living and every month is not the same so we constantly push to earn. We did not have enough time to prepare for this period. I did not apply for the relief as I am a bit uncertain about it. I am very much stressed and scared of what is to come should this lockdown continue. I do not have a plan as yet and I am working on trying to figure out how we are going to find our feet again after the lockdown. It is really hard, some of us are lucky to have family who can assist but what about those who don’t have any support. I pray for the best.”

NEWS 7

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 21 April 2020

REGULATIONS

Grappling with law on restrictions NETTALIE VILJOEN NETTALIE.VILJOEN@MEDIA24.COM

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rying to make heads or tails of what does or does not qualify as essential goods or services according to the national lockdown restrictions is a bit of a minefield.

People’s Post asked Dr Cathy Powell, an associate professor in public law at the University of Cape Town’s faculty of law, to shed some light on the subject.

According to the Disaster Management Act, why is the sale of stationery and hardware products excluded?

The Disaster Management Act does not exclude any of these sales. It merely gives the executive branch of government the power to make regulations to address a national disaster if existing legislation is inadequate to deal with the disaster.

Section 27 authorises a range of measures the executive can take, including issuing regulations, and these include “other steps that may be necessary to prevent an escalation of the disaster or to alleviate. contain and minimise the effects of the disaster”.

It’s the regulations that have prevented

the sale of stationery, and they have done so by issuing a blanket ban on movement, accompanied by certain “exceptions”.

One of the exceptions is that we may leave our place of residence to obtain essential goods and services. Annexure B to the regulations sets out what are to be considered “essential goods and services” but it neglects to include stationery.

It was not a well-thought-out list and omitted many items which have, through amendments, subsequently been included.

Is there any legal avenue for parents or homeowners who are in a serious predicament to purchase these goods?

Yes. One of the options is a court challenge to the regulations for omitting stationery.

It’s obviously an essential service if the government insists that schooling is to continue. And it goes beyond the powers granted by the act.

Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act limits the regulations that the executive may issue in the following terms: (3) The powers referred to in subsection (2) may be exercised only to the extent that this is necessary for the purpose of: . assisting and protecting the public; . providing relief to the public;

. protecting property; . preventing or combatting disruption; or . dealing with the destructive and other effects of the disaster.

It is difficult to imagine how the government might argue that prohibiting the sale of stationery does any of those five things listed in subsection (3). Indeed, it causes disruption and interrupts relief efforts.

Court challenges are expensive but they would at least be allowed access right now – lockdown-related cases are being admitted to the courts whereas others are being put on hold.

What could communities do to ensure their request receives the government’s due consideration?

Massive public pressure, letters to the president, petitions and endless comments on social media will help and may get a quicker result than a court challenge. If organisations (residential, NGO’s) could send in appeals in the name of the organisation itself, that would add to the sheer bulk of requests for a rapid change to the regulations.

On 9 April, the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) announced the sale of baby clothes was included in the list of essen-

tial products from the beginning of the lockdown but it was just not interpreted in the right way. Could this be the case with regards to stationery items?

Probably not. Note that “essential goods and services” are not defined in the act at all. We are merely given a list of what does constitute essential goods and services.

Now, in the case you have just mentioned, it is possible that the government claimed that baby clothes should be read into one of the existing items in Annexure B, namely “products for the care of babies and toddlers”. But I can’t find an item in Annexure B that could be “extended” to include stationery for schooling and other office work.

In this case, one would have to argue that the regulations are defective in themselves, and need to include a section on schooling and make provision for the ongoing operation of businesses that are allowed to continue under the regulations. Or have a decent definition of essential services in the definition section.

The regulations are extremely vague.

It would be feasible for (parts of) the regulations to be challenged as not law at all, as they do not provide the necessary specificity.

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Former Bok ploughs back Coast. With the SA Rugby Legends, I toured to Italy and Bermuda where rugby players of all the rugby playing nations meet and strut AVRIL.FILLIES@MEDIA24.COM their stuff on the rugby pitches.”

Coaches who played major roles in mouldo be selected for the Springboks is any ing Jordaan as a rugby player are John rugby player’s childhood dream but to McFarland, Tim Laine, Umaga, Heineke be selected before George Gregan of Meyer and Nazeem Adams.

“Each one had a different coaching and inAustralia in a club game is testimony that ter-personal style, which I admired, and I you have arrived on the rugby stage.

This is how Norman Jordaan, a former could learn from each of them. Through the Springbok scrumhalf, describes two of the years you make friends with teammates or highlights in his rugby career which started opposing teams and these friendships are in 1985 at Yellowwood Primary School in lasting friendships as they all played a role in your rugby career at a certain point.

Mitchell’s Plain.

“When you are on tour, you are away from “I became a Springbok in 2002 while I was playing in France under Tana Umaga as the family and friends and are dependent on coach with Gregan at Toulon. I never dreamt your teammates. Now that I am not playing that I would one day play with him or that professionally I miss the chats and banter at he would be on the bench, but when I joined the dinner tables,” says Jordaan.

Tours were not always about rugby only, Toulon, Umaga selected me in the starting line-up and Gregan was my reserve,” he says. he adds, but about visiting tourist sites and Jordaan believes it is important to plough to get a feel of the culture and entertainment back your knowledge and for former players in the different countries. to be mentors to young and talented players. Jordaan says that you are always aware of “When I started playing I had to fend for the pranksters in the team, but your team myself as there was nobody to show me the never knows when you will be pranked. He ropes. We as former players should help the says two funny incidents on rugby tours that young ones because we know where they always bring a smile to his face involve Harwant to go and we’ve been there. At least we old Karele from Lansdowne, his teammate at can tell them what to expect when they play Toulon, and Lukas van Biljon of the Bulls.

“When the Boks toured in Italy, we went on the big stage, globally,” Jordaan says.

He says they must show the young ones to the Vatican and somehow Harold, Egon Seconds and I got waylaid and landed in the that the road to success is a difficult one.

“But it can be achieved through hard work private garden of the pope.

“We were admiring the stone statues and and putting everything on the line. Don’t let others derail your plans or goals,” he says. I don’t know what happened but the next Before making his Springbok debut thing Harold was holding a piece of the statue against England at Twickenham in 2002, Jor- in his hands. Egon and I ran as fast as we daan played for Western Province, Blue could and left him behind in the garden. I don’t know or don’t want to know how he got Bulls and Toulon.

He retired as a professional rugby player out of the garden and what he did with the at Libourne, a small rugby club in France, be- piece in his hands.”

The incident with Lukas happened in 2004 fore returning to South Africa. Today he is the assistant coach at Maties in Stellenbosch. when Jordaan toured as the SA “A” team in “Rugby allowed me to travel overseas and Argentina.

“For our first game in Buenos Aires, we experience different cultures and cuisine.

With the Bulls, I toured to Argentina and had to be in the foyer of the hotel at 05:00, Georgia and I have good memories of those packed and in our step-out attire. The team tours. I also had the privilege to travel to Du- was waiting on the bus to leave for the game bai, New Zealand and the Australian Gold when a taxi pulled up and Lukas climbed out after a night out. The expression on his face when he saw us all ready to depart was priceless. The rest of the week he was duty boy,” he chuckles.

According to Jordaan, Gregan is the best scrumhalf in history. When asked what attributes a scrumhalf should have, Jordaan says that they must have a good pass, a good box kick, good judgement and attitude.

What most people don’t know about Jordaan is that, besides his backline and team attack coaching at Maties, he is also in construction.

“My advice to players is to work hard, be coachable and study as you never know when your rugby career could end. Then you can fall back on your qualification. If I were to compare rugby of today to when I was playing I would say that today’s players are getting everything served up on a plate. In my day, we had to work thrice as hard just to be noticed for a callup,” says Jordaan.

Norman Jordaan runs out for the Springbok Legends.

AVRIL FILLIES

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Events at Killarney are on hold until June.

PHOTO: DAVE ABRAHAMS

End-of-year motorsport fest aims to showcase Killarney The extent of the crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic presents a situation of great uncertainty, both to our health and our country’s economic well-being, says Western Province Motor Club (WPMC) president Dr Greg Mills.

“The crisis is likely to profoundly affect the way of life to which we have become accustomed and will demand prescient and firm leadership and tough choices to ensure both the club’s stability and future prosperity. While WPMC has unavoidably had to put its planned events on hold, at least until June, we are using the time constructively to prepare the strategy for the long-term renewal of the lease agreement,” states Mills.

He adds that this strategy will be circulated in due course and that the club’s management is working at devising and implementing ongoing cost-cutting measures to accommodate the considerable upset in the motorracing calendar and anticipated revenue streams.

“I congratulate them for their hard work during this stressful time and ask for your support of their endeavours. It is important, too, that we keep focused on a more positive future. In this regard, we are planning a Motorsport Festival around 4 or 5 December, including an international endurance race and historic events.

“A number of international stars have, Covid-conditional, accepted our invitation to compete, including Jan Lammers, Emanuele Pirro, and Ginetta’s Lawrence Tomlinson – all of whom are overall or class winners at Le Mans – as well as the Killarney legend Brian Redman and current Ginetta Le Mans and WEC star Michael Simpson,” says Mills.

The event is to be run in conjunction with Wesgro, the Western Cape’s Investment and Trade agency.

Premier Alan Winde has been invited to be the guest of honour and the starter of the main event, should it be safe to do so when the time comes.

“I hope that you will agree that this is a great platform for the WPMC to showcase Killarney and the capabilities of its management and membership.

More details will follow on the festival as soon as these become available,” he says, adding his best wishes for this period, which is an important time for many religions.

“The club wishes you and your families well during this most difficult and abstruse time. We encourage all members to stay indoors and safe during the lockdown, where we can all play our part in slowing the transmission of this deadly virus, to resume our normal lives as soon as possible.”

Martial arts gym excels The AJP Africa Continental jiu-jitsu Pro Championships was held at Camps Bay High School last month.

Steve Bazzea Gym (SGB) Cape Town in Noordhoek recorded the following gold medalists: Cole Brodie, Elijah Walters, Erouan Tanguy, Elie Kouaiky and

Chris Barichievy.

Silver went to Joshua Manning, Santiago Loftus, Jake Oelofse, Joshua Walkenbach and Tarquin Ogilvie. And bronze medals were awarded to Zavick Botha and Doug Graham.

Lewis Mataya, who was bumped up to blue belt division because of his amateur MMA record, did exceptionally well to take the African blue belt absolute champion down on two occasions with double leg takedowns only to lose by an advantage.

Steven Nilson (17) entered the adult division and faced a tough bracket to come in fourth.

From the SBG children’s team, Tiana Kouaiky won the hearts of many with her tenacity and positive attitude competing against boys to be placed fourth as well.

Following the African Continental Pro Championship, SBG Cape Town was the number seven ranked academy in Africa and ranked number two in South Africa.

SBG Cape Town is coached by The Steve Bazzea Gym Cape Town excelled at the SBG International Black belt Steve Bazzea, who is also the SBG Africa recent AJP championships held at Camps Bay head coach.

High School.