People's Post - 28 April 2020

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2 Mask fumble quickly goes viral

3 The Phillips family’s fruit and vegetable stall has made roughly a 50% loss of income since reopening about two weeks ago.

PHOTO: RACINE EDWARDES

BUSINESS

Informal traders face huge financial losses RACINE EDWARDES RACINE.EDWARDES@MEDIA24.COM @RAEEDWARDES

W

hile many retailers have experienced significant losses in revenue since having to close their doors at the start of the national lockdown, informal traders say they are feeling the pinch the most.

According to four informal traders, this is because the sale of their goods is their only source of income to support their families.

Jadine Phillips, an informal trader selling fruit and vegetables, says: “We were closed since the lockdown; they gave us letters to say that we had to close. And we’ve been open about two weeks now. We heard on the news that we can trade again, but it was a mission.

We had to get a Covid-19 permit to trade.”

Due to the reduced number of people on the roads sales at roadside stalls have dropped considerably. Phillips has significantly less

money to support her family of 10.

“The sales are not like they used to be since we reopened. We’re making about half of what we used to,” she explains.

Eddie Thompson, an informal trader selling snoek, says he also recently began retailing his goods again. He says some days are better than others. He adds that on Tuesday 21 April was very bad. “We only sold about 14 pieces of fish for the whole day. We usually sell 80 to 100 a day,” he says.

This has also had an impact on his family who rely solely on his livelihood for a source of income. He sources his fish from fisheries in Lambert’s Bay, more than 200km from where he sells them, resulting in mounting costs and diminished profits.

Another fruit and vegetable trader, Riedwaan Jacobs, says reopening his stall has been difficult. “Before the permit, I had no income at all. Even the people who work with us here (in the road), they couldn’t work – and they earn a day-to-day living here. They

depend on this and the police come and arrest them.”

Isaac Hendricks, who makes his money doing odd jobs around retail centres, says he hoped to continue working during the lockdown. “I help people with the bags, coming out of the shops. I help people by the houses.

Any way that I can, I help for some change.

But the police hit me – and they hit hard!”

Jacobs adds that people have to run away from whenever the police come. “So it’s not working out,” he says.

Richard Isaacs, a trader who operates nearby, says he also encountered several problems when attempting to reopen, but he persevered to feed his family of five. “If I deduct everything, I go home with only R1 000 profit a week. I must pay the guys, pay the rent, and we weren’t here for almost two weeks.”

On Friday 1 May the lockdown will move to level four, creating much needed income for many. However, with no other sources of income, traders will continue to struggle.

Virus recoveries slowly on the rise

4 102 years for Aunty Dinah Fourie

"Facts, not fear"

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2 NEWS

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 28 April 2020

‘Thank you, Uncle Cyril’ SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS @Samantha_Lee121 If there is one thing to admire about South Africa, it is our unwavering sense of humour.

Even in a time of a crisis, South Africans always seem to find the funny.

At the end of his address on Thursday 23 April, president Cyril Ramaphosa put on a mask. What was meant to set an example turned into an iconic fumble.

Within seconds of the incident being aired, memes and status updates flooded social media platforms, ultimately resulting in a flurry of re-enactment posts called #CyrilChallenge and #MaskChallenge where social media users either snapped a picture of themselves with a mask covering their eyes or a video of their version of what

Ramaphosa did.

What it has done is give South Africans hope, laughter and a sign that even the president is human.

But not everyone agrees, stating the memes and videos are in bad taste and an attempt to poke fun at and undermine the president.

However, social media users have hit back saying they were only “finding the humour in it” and “laughing with and not at him”.

Yasmeen Isaacs wrote: “You people that are getting so senti(mental) about us laughing at Cyril go throw yourself away, it’s not that deep! We know Cyril is doing his best and we respect him. Allow people to laugh a little yaw, remember we’re all feeling this with Cyril.”

Adrian Manuel also defended social media users’ right to have a good laugh: “Some people act as if they have a degree in seriousness

calling people names like childish and stupid. It’s called having a sense of humour which is the ability to find things funny (no permission needed). No one disputed the fact that we have a good president who demonstrates a high level of cognitive differentiation. #IApplaudOurPresident #ButItWasStill Funny.”

Auriol Daniels wrote in Afrikaans that many were upset with the memes and called on them to relax as life did not have to be so serious and sour.

She added that no one was disrespecting “uncle Cyril”.

Warren Africa wrote on Facebook: “Tonight, our president showed us all the difference between being popular and being responsible. He may have fumbled with his face mask. Who hasn’t?

He can laugh at himself. I would rather have a human being as a president than a manufactured, packaged and filtered one. Thank you for guiding us through these dif-

ficult and challenging times Mr cherry on the top! I am beyond gratePresident, we love and salute you ful for him and his leadership.” for your leadership.”

One unclaimed meme even said Keith Parring also got in on the the fumble was planned to help set action, asking residents to help residents’ minds at ease. share a more flattering photo of the “Uncle Cyril planned this because president with the caption: “Let’s he knew it would trend and give see how viral this can go? After you people something to laugh about. all laughed at Uncle Cyril.”

Thank you, Mr President, I see “Uncle” or “Oom” is how he is re- you.” cently commonly referred to on social media.

On Twitter, Robyn Porteous agreed with Africa’s sentiments saying: “Tonight, the president showed he is a human being like you and me; that he is frightened and cautious, yet hopeful. And his brief struggle with the final prop was The iconic mask fumble at the end of the president’s the endearing address on Thursday 23 April.

Pressure on food relief centre grows amid lockdown

Help ward 71 to feed the vulnerable

SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS @Samantha_Lee121

A small group of volunteers, led by Penny East, councillor for ward 71, are working hard to ensure that vulnerable households in Tokai, Kirstenhof, Zwaanswyk, Constantia Hills, Westlake and Bergvliet do not go hungry during lockdown. But they need residents’ help.

East says a couple of hundred households will not eat unless help is provided. She, together with the support of community leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has established the Covid19 Disaster Response Programme for ward 71. It aims to provide one meal a day for its most vulnerable residents.

“We have a team of experienced community workers to do the work on the ground, and we have the suppliers ready to supply the very basic food-stuffs we require. Our issue is that we need to be able to pay for that food,” East says.

The programme has already received some very generous contributions but the extended lockdown means people will continue to rely on donations.

“We need the public’s help. Over

The provincial food relief call centre receives on average 14 500 calls per day.

“With the extension of an extra two weeks of the lockdown, we are starting to see pressures emerging regarding nutrition,” says premier Alan Winde.

“We have 8 000 NGOs (non-governmental organisations) playing a role in the province and we have small and big private sector operations raising money and collecting food and giving food parcels.”

More than R50 million has been made available in the province with additional resources in the national government as the level 5 lockdown draws to a close.

Winde commended the municipalities who have also already made funding available for food relief.

“It is starting to reach a pressure point. Our call centre at the beginning of the Easter weekend was battling with the volume and we needed to procure extra staff and

volunteers from the government.

We are in early days in our Covid19 response in South Africa and the Western Cape,” says Winde.

He says there is a break in communication and vetting that has seen further delays in the distribution of parcels.

“There is quite a lot of coordination work that has gone on but it is not quite there yet. There is also confusion. People are being told that SASSA is delivering food parcels here and municipalities are delivering there, creating such confusion. We are around 80% there. Because there is not 100% coordination you start to get confused,” he says.

There are 1.6 million people in the province receiving a social grant. These residents do not qualify for the food relief initiative.

“When you go into lockdown and people who are not permanently employed, don’t have UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) possibility and then form part of the missing middle. That is what keeps me up at night. I am very worried about large crowds and people

missing in the middle. People who have not got a salary or wage, have now run out of electricity and have no food in their houses. It’s now about making sure the call centre are getting through checking that they are not on a social grant and more needy than the next and that we get food to them,” says Winde.

Through the feeding initiatives, 50 000 young children are being fed through the ECD centres and a further 500 000 are fed through the school feeding schemes which reopened earlier this month.

“As we move longer into lockdown, a number of people are not receiving their wage or income and not able to buy food and electricity. I have had a number of calls on this and we also see it in our call centres,” says Winde.

He further urged the national government to open SASSA offices to help process requests more efficiently.

An additional 50 000 food parcels have been added to the relief measures with possibly adding more funding from its coffers as the lockdown restrictions gradually ease.

an extended period. We would normally ask the public to contribute groceries but the lockdown makes that impracticable and unsafe. So I am asking for money,” she says.

The team consists of members from the Kirstenhof Resident’s Association, Xchange Connexion and Soul, Westlake United Church Trust, Amazing Grace Upliftment Centre, Parkscape, Tokai Neighbourhood Crime Watch, Tokai Residents Association and Zwaanswyk Association of Property Owners.

An oversight committee ensures everything is done in accordance with the principles of good governance. Soul (Sharing Our Ubuntu Legacy), a trust and registered public benefit organisation, is running the project’s accounting.

“I know I can rely on the good people of this ward and the surrounding communities, to make sure we help the vulnerable during this challenging time,” East says.

V Donate to Sharing Our Ubuntu Legacy Western Cape Trust, First National Bank, account number: 62182201573, branch code: 250655, swift code: FIRNZAJJ. Reference: your surname and Covid-19.

COVID-19

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Home ‘remedy’ dangerous

WHOM TO CONTACT

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

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

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S

ocial media posts suggesting a home remedy could cure or protect residents against Covid-19 has been debunked by independent fact-checkers.

One of these posts shared by a South African-based social media page reads: “Due to the rising issue of coronavirus it’s been found that coronavirus mutates and multiplies in the body through acid cells, in simple form, if you have too much acid cells in your body you are more likely to be infected by coronavirus and if you have less acid cells you stand less chance of being infected, and we know that bicarbonate of soda reduces acid cells in the body, so in order to clear yourself of acid cells, drink a small amount of the mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda, just take one or even half a spoon of it and pour it into you water dispenser or drinking bottle just to keep your acid cells at a minimum level stay safe. (sic)” The post continues to say that lemon juice or lemons can help reduce these “acid cells” and concludes: “Now that you know, it’s your duty to tell the next person you talk to about it.”

The combination of these ingredients together or with other acidic ingredients usually makes a bio-degradable detergent, with

bicarbonate soda and vinegar being an example, used as a home-made drain cleaner solution.

The acidity in lemon juice or vinegar reacts with the bicarbonate of soda causing a bubbling reaction.

But despite some of the posts baring a fake news notification, one Facebook user responded: “This information is correct, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) prevents viral upper respiratory infections. I have put together similar information in a YouTube video.”

Lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda is not an effective cure for Covid-19, says a health professional at Tygerberg Hospital Poisons Information Centre. PHOTO: SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS

With another saying: “The medicine will never agree with this even this is very true.”

The user continued that as a diabetic they had been using the solution for six years.

“I am 100% sure that will boost your immune system, if you got Covid-19 this will not be too hard to deal with and you may recover. Do not and never expect doctors to agree with this.”

A message with similar content was also shared on several other social media sites and the exact author is unknown as a result of its viral sharing.

Carine Marks, director of the Tygerberg Hospital Poisons Information Centre, says this is not an effective cure or treatment and can pose a health risk.

The centre has received disturbing news of parents using this method on their children.

Marks says the centre received a call from a mother who gave her eight-year-old son lemon juice and sodium bicarbonate in boiling water for protection against Covid-19.

The boy vomited severely and had to be admitted to hospital.

“This advice of the lemon and hot water cure comes from a viral WhatsApp message. This information is false and we can confirm that a buffered solution of hot lemon juice and sodium bicarbonate, similarly, will do nothing to change the pH of either your body or your immune system. Please refrain from giving this to children,” says Marks.

NEWS 3

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 28 April 2020

Response on duty

COVID-19

Recovery numbers slowly rise SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS @Samantha_Lee121

T

he Western Cape has officially become the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the numbers rise to more than 1500, the highest in the country.

In the most recent statistics released on Sunday 26 April, there are a total of 1531 cases in the Western Cape, 1285 of which are in the City of Cape Town municipality.

Of these cases, only 1250 are actively infected, with 32 deaths and 249 recoveries. While most of the cases are mild, 68 patients have been admitted to hospital with 26 in the ICU. Mitchell’s Plain, Klipfontein and Khayelitsha were flagged as potential hotspots by the health department because of the population density and other contributing factors. The infection numbers in these areas have risen to more than 103 for Mitchell’s Plain, 146 for Khayelitsha and 91 for Klipfontein.

Community screening and testing has already been conducted in parts of these areas.

According to the Western Cape department of health on Thursday 23 April there were 1 153 cases reported in the Western Cape with 954 in the city metro with 236 recoveries and 25 deaths. One week prior, on Thursday 16 April, the number of Western Cape confirmed cases stood at 702. In one week, infections had increased by more than 400 with only 31 additional recoveries.

Premier Alan Winde and head of health Dr Keith Cloete both expressed concern over the gathering of people which creates more risk for the spread of the virus.

“Where ever people gather, it becomes a potential place to spread Covid-19,” says Cloete.

“We have established community transmission. We have entered a new period for the Western Cape specifically in hotspots in vulnerable communities. That puts us on high

Coronavirus testing continues with infection numbers still rising. PHOTO: SAMANTHA LEE-JACOBS alert and the need to be as vigilant as we can to mitigate and stop the spread. If there is any sense of complacency, I would like to tell people this is a really big thing coming. We are taking this very seriously. We will engage with communities on what is coming and the seriousness of this,” says Cloete.

He added that social distancing must be enforced at places where people gather, including supermarkets and clinics.

Winde further says while the numbers are alarming, residents should rest assured.

“People get worried that if there is a positive case (in their community). When someone is diagnosed in the community, there is a process that is followed,” says Winde.

Acting director at the provincial department of health, Dr Wayne Smith, says education will be key in dispelling stigma attached to the virus.

“There is a stigma attached (to having the disease). Once someone has tested positive and we are aware they can self-isolate (a home), we go in and take them through the process. They are monitored daily until they are well and can be clinically discharged. The vast majority of people don’t have this luxury.

The team will then go in and assess how many others share this accommodation and what are the risks to the patient and those sharing

SOUTH AFRICA, WE’RE AT YOUR SERVICE.

the accommodation,” says Smith.

“There have also been cases where the patient’s safety was compromised and that is why patient confidentiality is so important.

We have seen where patient details have come out and the community have responded.

There are two components here. We need to get the patient out and safe, but we also need to educate the community and make sure it is not stigmatised.”

Several facilities have been made available to serve as isolation facilities for those unable to self-isolate at home.

At the isolation facilities, the patients are monitored for clinical and mental health and are then reintegrated into the community.

The province is now also building up a database of all patients.

Cloete says the database will help the province understand who and how many from an industry are infected. For example, how many nurses, policemen or teachers are infected, especially for assessing what the risks are should that industry go back to work.

Smith says managing the spread has been very tough and tiring. He calls on residents to continue staying home, cleaning their hands and observing social distancing.

Winde says the province is preparing on all fronts. “I want to thank all front line staff.

There is fatigue already, people are putting in hours and hours. I want to thank you for your outstanding work. What I see outside worries me tremendously. I saw out in Manenberg people out in the streets, and you just have to have a look at what happened in other parts of the world and say to ourselves, ‘if we are not going to follow the proper practices of washing our hands, masks, social distancing and staying at home, we are going to be in big trouble’. People please, we need to adhere to these rules and regulations for a very clear purpose,” says Winde.

Armed response officers deployed across the city have continued their patrols during the nationwide lockdown, helping to arrest several suspects recently. . In the first incident, Cape Town south district manager at Fidelity ADT Jade Hanning says an armed response officer helped in the arrest of two suspects. They allegedly broke into a property in Faerie Knowe (near Sunnydale) on Wednesday 1 April. A neighbour witnessed the alleged break-in and raised the alarm through a local community WhatsApp group. “We have a community hub for the area and our team monitored this WhatsApp message. They, in turn, alerted an armed response officer in the area, who located the two suspects. Both were apprehended, and they pointed out where the allegedly stolen items were hidden before they were handed over into police custody,” says Hanning. . The second incident occurred in Wynberg on Monday 5 April. “One of our armed response officers was on patrol along Castletown Road when he noticed four men loitering. One of the men had a large bag in his possession and he was busy showing its contents to the other three. This looked suspicious to our officer and he called for assistance via the local CVIC radio network,” says Hanning.

Two police officers happened to be driving past and the Fidelity officer asked them to assist as the suspects were questioned. The bag was searched and found to contain a knife and a laptop, among other items. The suspect, who was holding the bag, was taken into custody on a charge of possession of presumed stolen items. Armed response officers, Hanning adds, have been designated as essential services during the lockdown and continue to be on duty in their allocated communities.

“I must pay tribute to these brave men and women who continue to look after our customers and who keep them safe. If you see anything suspicious in your suburb, please raise the alarm immediately so that the appropriate response can be deployed as quickly as possible.”

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.

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4 NEWS

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 28 April 2020

Local NHW makes a difference in community Thieves target local churches KAYLYNNE BANTOM @bantomokaylynne

“We know that this is a matter of survival, and we dare not fail. We shall recover. We shall overcome.” These were the words of president Cyril Ramaphosa as he addressed the nation and announced a country-wide lockdown. Ordinary citizens have not taken these words lightly and sprung into action to assist their fellow man.

One such group is members of the Kensington 9-5 Neighbourhood Watch (NHW).

They saw the need in their community and decided to feed the vulnerable and underprivileged in the area.

Mogamat Nordien, chair of the NHW, says: “We have many unemployed people in our area and we felt that assisting them with food parcels or a warm plate of food will fill that gap during the lockdown.”

Nordien says the plan was to only feed people on a Tuesday but it was soon discovered that the need is far greater.

“I then approached the South African National Zakah Fund (SANZAF) and they have been supplying us with food parcels,” added Nordien.

He says to date more than 1 350 people “We told ourselves from the beginning have benefitted. “I have been asked for as- that if we are going to do this we will do it sistance from people in District Six, Salt Riv- right, without putting our health or the er and Woodstock; people are really strug- health of those we serve at risk. We wear our gling out there. So we cater not only for our masks, gloves and sanitize regularly. community but for those “Our motivation for doin other areas as well.” ing this is that we don’t Nordien explains that want to see people go hunthe response from recipgry. We refer to ourselves ients has made it all as the Kensington 9-5 worth it. “We are greetNeighbourhood Watch, a ed with grateful hearts group that cares for the and some even get emocommunity.” tional when we hand He explains that “9-5” rethem a food parcel.” fers to Fifth Avenue and He adds that when Ninth Street in Kensingthey are running low on ton, which was notorious food parcels, they use for drug peddling until the food items instead to they started patrolling cook warm meals. “We there. now give warm food on “And that is still our a Wednesday and Saturgoal: to make a change day and distribute food wherever we go,” explains parcels on a Tuesday,” Nordien. says Nordien.

V Anyone wishing to make a doHe says they observe Members of the Kensington 9-5 nation of non-perishable foods strict social distancing Neighbourhood Watch serving the can contact Nordien on community. measures.

072 472 6745.

Kids learn kitchen skills Many parents are at a loss as to how to keep children busy and entertained without resorting to plonking them in front of the TV all day.

Well, how about getting them cooking and baking in the kitchen?

According to a recent article in The New York Times, cooking is a way to talk to youngsters about health, healthy ingredients and healthy eating. It can also bring families closer together.

Donna Verrydt, organiser of the children’s national cooking competition Taste Bud Battle, says: “Getting kids in the kitchen provides them with practical experience with many essential skills, and cooking as a family brings everyone together and creates a bonding experience.”

Baking and cooking can be a means of education for children.

So what other benefits are there to cooking and baking with your kids in the kitchen? . It increases language development, since kids are not only learning and talking about different ingredients, but also following recipe directions which enhances receptive language skills. . It enhances fine motor skills. Mixing ingredients, rolling dough and using cookie cutters are all great ways to enhance a child’s fine motor strength and control, which are needed to develop academic skills such as writing, cutting and colouring-in. . It increases maths skills given that cooking and baking involves a lot of measurement such as cups, teaspoons and tablespoons, as well as fractions and addition and subtraction proficiency. . It improves reading skills since children have to read the recipes, and it also helps enhance reading comprehension. . It introduces children to scientific concepts as they learn what happens when certain ingredients are mixed together correctly or incorrectly. . It increases focus and attention, or else the recipe they are following will result in the final product not turning out correctly. Kids learn quickly that they have to pay attention if they want to eat that delicious tasting brownie they wanted to make. . It teaches life skills and safety lessons such as how to be an independent adult and not to touch a hot stove or how to use a knife. . It boosts self-confidence and self-esteem.

When a child is able to successfully complete a recipe and create a tasty dish, they feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

CBD crime plummets Despite a spate of opportunistic incidents, crime in the Cape Town Central Business District (CBD) has dropped by 76% during lockdown. This is according to Mo Hendricks, safety and security manager for the Cape Town Central Improvement District (CCID).

He says only 35 crimes were recorded by the CCID safety and security department from Friday 27 March to Wednesday 15 April, compared with 151 crime incidents during the same period last year.

“There has also been a decrease in contact crimes compared with the same period last year. In 2019, there were 22 robberies, 60 cases of theft out of motor vehicles and 20 cases of people fighting in public. During the first three weeks of lockdown, there were two robberies, one case of theft out of motor vehicle and four cases of people fighting in public,” explains Hendricks.

The CCID safety and security department has continued to operate at full capacity as an essential service during lockdown, with the full complement of 300 public safety officers being deployed, day and night.

He says during the first weekend of the lockdown, 16 suspects were arrested, 14 for breaking into businesses and two for being in possession of implements to break into vehicles.

“The business break-ins were opportunistic and sporadic crimes by criminals who tried to take advantage of the situation. We immediately shut down their windows of opportunity. Both our primary partners – the police and the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement agency – have been providing phenomenal support to CCID teams on the ground and have been working tirelessly to enforce lockdown by holding roadblocks, stopping people and issuing fines,” says Hendricks.

Centenarian shares wisdom KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM

B

irthdays are normally celebrated with family and those near and dear to you. But with the country on lockdown and social distancing measures in place, many who have celebrated during this time were forced to give the party a skip.

The staff at Kensington Home for the Aged, however, felt Dinah Fourie deserved to be honoured and rightfully so – it’s not everyday one reach the age of 102 years old.

Fourie, commonly known as Aunty Dinah, celebrated this milestone on Thursday 16 April, making her the oldest resident at the Home. Fourie, originally from Greyton in the Overberg, moved to Kensington 27 years ago and has outlived her husband, William and two sons.

Leon Courie, chief executive officer at the

St Mary’s, the oldest Catholic cathedral in South Africa, this year commemorates its patronal feat marking 179 years since its inception. But the celebrations have been tainted by a recent burglary where thieves made off with items valued at about R300 000.

Reverend Rohan Smuts, a priest at the cathedral based in the City Bowl, says they are saddened by the burglary.

“Thieves broke in and entered through one of the church’s windows which, just like the church building, is more than 170 years old.”

Smuts says: “They have desecrated the church. Eucharist was found everywhere.

They definitely had time because they caused lots of damage.”

He adds that among the goods stolen were the tabernacle, ciboriums, silver candelabras, microphones, two patens, a chalice and money. Smuts explains that the four candelabras alone are worth R100 000.

“If anyone tries to sell you any of these things or if you have any information, please report it to the police or the dean of the cathedral on 021 462 2586,” pleads Smuts.

Captain Ezra October, Cape Town central police spokesperson, confirms the incident.

This break-in is the second at a church since the lockdown began.

In a separate incident, the Presbyterian Church based in Hatfield Street, Gardens, was also robbed.

October says one of the congregants who visited the church found the church door open and discovered that a classroom had been burgled.

October says: “At the time of the discovery, the congregant observed that a microwave, a vacuum cleaner, toys, a high-pressure hose, a gazebo and a kettle had been stolen from the church. The estimated value of the stolen items is R7 800.”

He adds that businesses in the central business district have become easy targets for criminals.

Churches have become easy targets.

KENSINGTON

KAYLYNNE BANTOM

KAYLYNNE BANTOM @bantomokaylynne

home, says: “Aunty Dinah is a wonderful per- and love Fourie for the past 27 years. “Years son; always friendly and caring. We have cele- ago aunty Dinah started a prayer group here brated many birthdays with her, and this and a group of mothers would come together year we tried to make it a bit more special be- every week to pray.” cause, due to the lockdown, the home is off Maasdorp says Fourie’s memory might be limits to outsiders. Alongside her fellow resi- failing her but her faith is still strong, adding dents and staff we showered her with love, that her favourite saying is that we must be flowers and prayers.” thankful to God for everyFourie, a God-fearing thing. woman, says God will But what is the secret to always come first in her longevity? Fourie answers life. “Going to church with as smile: “There is no and praying are two of secret to living to 102 years the most important old. I am feeling good about things at this point in life. All I can say is I don’t my life,” she explains. drink or smoke.”

The centenarian, who Fourie does not shy away now has dementia, refrom sharing some golden calls that she has 10 wisdom with the younger grandchildren. generation and says: “ReMarianna Maasdorp, member to honour your an administrative clerk mother and father so that at the institution, says Aunty Dinah Fourie celebrated her God can lengthen your she has come to know 102nd birthday. life.”

Two in court for robbery Two men suspected of robbing a shop in Blossom Street, Bridgetown in Athlone, were released on bail at the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 21 April.

The men are believed to be part of the quartet that robbed the store at 15:00 on Monday 20 April. Police spokesperson Norman Zita says the shop owner and two employees were in the shop when two men entered the store. They allegedly threw sand in one person’s face and threatened the owner and staff with a firearm.

“Another two suspects joined them and then closed the shop doors,” he says. Items stolen include R10 000 in cash, numerous memory cards, watch batteries to the value of R4 000, an undisclosed amount of Zakah funds in a tin, toys to the value of R500, electrical wire worth R2 400, a white Samsung J5 cellphone worth R2 100, an Itel cellphone worth R500, a Nokia worth R1 000, and a Prime J2 worth R3 500.

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 28 April 2020

NEWS 5

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PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 28 April 2020

RONDEBOSCH

Entrepreneur cream of the crop NETTALIE VILJOEN

O

nce you’ve heard someone has made the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list it is easy to think, well, it doesn’t get any bigger than this, but if that person is Uzair Essack, chances are you will be proven wrong.

In a mere five years, the Rondebosch resident has built CapeCrops, an export business that sells fruits and vegetables sourced from South Africa to the rest of Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, into a multimillion Rand company.

In 2015, at the age of 22, Essack invested his savings to start the business. It went from earning R500 000 ($30 515) revenue in its first year to R34 million ($2 million) in 2019.

Despite his phenomenal success, Essack remains down to earth. The process to select the top 30 began at the beginning of the year, but after not hearing back from the Forbes judging panel for almost two months, he assumed he hadn’t made the cut.

“Someone had nominated me and I was contacted by Forbes in January. They asked me a lot of questions. Which awards I’ve won? Which publications carried stories on me? They wanted a copy of the company’s financials, its trajectory growth. I spent a lot of time preparing the documentation, presenting it in the most professional way possible. Then I did not hear from them for a while.”

The 27-year-old says he felt disappointed.

That is until Forbes contacted him about a month ago to share the good news. He, and three other South Africans; tennis player Lloyd Harris (23); rugby player Pieter-Steph du Toit (27); and short-form films and video director Keitumetsi Qhali, also known as Director Kit (29), had made the acclaimed list.

In an article (“Forbes Africa #30Under30 List: Leading The Charge”) appearing in the Forbes magazine’s April edition, the leading

business publicaPeople’s Post has tion says over 3 000 reported on Essack’s nominations floodbusiness acumen beed into its inboxes fore (“An entreprefrom the start of 2020 neur to his roots”, for this Under 30 list.

17 September 2019).

Last year, it chose The last time we 120, with 30 finalists checked in on him, each in the categohe had just been anries of business, nounced as the wintechnology, sports ner of the 2019 Mediand arts. “This year, um Business Entrewe chose to stay preneur of the Year with 30: the best of category in South Afthe best spanning all rica’s premier annuindustries,” the artial entrepreneurial cle read. competition, the EnEssack says betrepreneur of the sides the prestige Year competition. that comes with be- Local entrepreneur Uzair Essack is being Asked how the ing recognised as featured in April’s Forbes magazine. He has Covid-19 national one of the top influ- made the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list. lockdown was affectential business leading his company, Esers in Africa, it also opens up valuable net- sack says, luckily, it isn’t too bad. With agriworking channels. One example is being culture considered as an essential service, added to a WhatsApp group which include he and his employees can still work. listed candidates from previous years. AnHe says there have been a few hiccups. other is an all-expenses-paid trip to attend Certain international ports have been closed the annual Under 30 Summit which will be and others, like those in Bangladesh, are held in Botswana’s capital city, Gaborone, congested because of less staff being allowed from Wednesday 2 until Sunday 6 December. to work. This has resulted in exporters havThis is the first time the summit will be ing to pay surcharges. hosted in Africa, allowing the 600 particiOverall, most of the changes have been pants access to “unbeatable networking and beneficial. “The global demand for fruit and pitching opportunities”. vegetables have increased because everyone But it won’t be all work and no play. Half- is staying at home. In the past, people would way through the summit, participants will purchase some of their food from restauhead off to Chobe National Park, the world’s rants or takeaways, now they have to rely largest elephant sanctuary, via private on supermarkets completely. My retail plane. chain clients in the United Kingdom (UK), Essack admits he’s excited at the prospect. for example, have increased their orders by “I have visited the Kruger National Park up to 30%,” he explains. but I am assuming Chobe’s safari game lodgAs odd as it may sound, the weakened es will be a bit fancier, and this will be my Rand has been another benefit. first time flying on a private plane.”

“We get paid in foreign currency, so for us

and for farmers who export their produce, this is an advantage. Now they are getting about 25% to 30% more for their goods because of the exchange rate.”

Essack says farmers who sell their wares at regional fruit and vegetable markets have been hard-hit. “These markets are now either extremely quiet or not operating at all.

Usually, they are filled with buyers from restaurants or caterers (all of whom are not allowed to operate under lockdown restrictions). The local industry is struggling.”

He says CapeCrops is trying to assist farmers by exporting more of their produce, earning them the higher exchange rate.

The lockdown has, however, slowed down plans to restructure the business into two concerns – CapeCrops and Riyp – with the first focusing on the Middle East market and the latter on the European market. Essack says everything is in progress. They are in talks with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CPIC).

“These are different markets with different currencies. We need two different strategies,” he says.

His father, Ebrahim, who has been part of the company since the beginning, will focus on CapeCrops while he will concentrate more on Riyp. “We will still both be helping each other, sharing farmers and intellectual property,” he says.

Contemplating the country’s economy post lockdown, Essack says we need to reduce our reliance on importation.

“In general, we should focus more on local production. This will fuel entrepreneurship and increase employment. Hopefully, these two factors will boost the economy.”

He says we should also try to buy products that have been made locally.

“Production might cost less overseas, but with the Rand being so weak it could balance out, making the price of local and international products almost the same.”

Stem cell donors can still register in lockdown For many of them, a blood stem cell donation from a matching donor is their only chance of survival.

With the announcement of the national state of disaster in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the fundraising activities of the fund came to a standstill.

Limited opportunities to find suitable stem cell donors are also increasing the risk for people diagnosed with life-threatening blood diseases. The organisation is encouraging people to still get tested to become donors during the lockdown.

“Any adult between the ages of 18 and 45 years and in general good health can still register,” says Alana James, chief executive officer (CEO) of The Sunflower Fund.

“You also need to weigh more than 50kg and have a BMI of less than 40.”

According to the fund, a patient has the

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best chance of finding a match from someone with the same ethnicity. There is only a 25% chance that a sibling will be a match for a patient. The remaining 75% possibility of a match is from an unrelated donor.

“Patients with blood cancers and other blood disorders are particularly vulnerable during times of pandemics,” James adds.

“Their already compromised immune systems put them at constant risk of infection under normal circumstances, and you might be the life-saving hope they are waiting on,” James concludes.

Wilken also sends a plea to the public.

“Please become a blood stem cell donor. The hope that you bring to the patient and their family is immeasurable.”

V To become a donor, contact The Sunflower Fund on 0800 12 10 82 or WhatsApp 074 7150 212. Visit www.sunflowerfund.org for more information.

Leukaemia survivor, Sharleigh Wilken.

Image Source: rawpixel.com / Freepik

The need for life-saving blood stem cells is one that never ends. So despite citizens being confined to their homes, The Sunflower Fund is still calling on donors during the national lockdown.

As a leading, blood stem cell donor registry in Africa, The Sunflower Fund is dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders by helping patients find their matching donor.

A leukaemia survivor, wife and mother of two, Sharleigh Wilken, had her lifesaving transplant in October 2014; and she is still in good health today.

“After spending many months in a hospital isolation room during treatment, I’ve spent these days of the national lockdown reconnecting with my family,” says Wilken.

Every 35 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world is diagnosed with blood cancer.

NEWS 7

PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 28 April 2020

CLIMATE CHANGE

Widespread species loss predicted A

new study has found that we could already start feeling the severe impact of climate change within the next 10 years.

According to the paper published on Wednesday 8 April in Nature, the disruption of biodiversity from climate change on land and in the oceans will be abrupt and could be much sooner than we had expected, potentially affecting tens of thousands of species. “Generally, people think it’s going to be bad in 2100, but this study showed it could be as soon as 2030,” said Dr Christopher Trisos, senior researcher at the African Climate and Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

The paper outlines that in many places around the world, a high percentage of species will be exposed to potentially dangerous climate conditions simultaneously, potentially leading to sudden and catastrophic die-offs of biodiversity. Under a scenario of high greenhouse gas emissions, such abrupt exposure events are forecast to begin before 2030 in tropical oceans and spread to tropical forests and temperate regions by the 2050s.

What surprised Trisos and his co-authors Dr Cory Merow (University of Connecticut)

and Dr Alex keep global Pigot (Univerwarming to besity College low 2°C, we can London) the expect less than most “was 2% of animal how much biocommunities diversity is at globally to experisk in the rience abrupt first half of exposure. But this century, the risk accelerand that the ates with the risk of colmagnitude of lapse at any warming, and it single location The projected timing of abrupt species loss due to is similar for doesn’t accu- climate change under a high greenhouse gas emissions species in promulate gradu- scenario.

INFOGRAPHIC: CHRISTOPHER TRISOS tected and unally but can go protected areas. from low risk to high risk within a decade.” It also shows that entire ecosystems could The team used annual projections from be under threat, putting people’s livelihoods climate models of temperature and precipi- at risk. Recent events such as mass bleachtation – including rain, snow and sleet – from ing of corals on the Great Barrier Reef sug1850 to 2100 across the ranges of more than gest this is happening already.

30 000 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, The tropical Indian and Pacific oceans are amphibians, fish and other animals. They most at risk for abrupt collapse of coral and did this to estimate the timing of their expo- fish communities. On land, animal commusure to potentially dangerous climate condi- nities in Indonesia, northern Australia, Intions. The scientists calculated that if we can dia, and the Amazon are at high risk. Within

Africa, extreme biodiversity loss could be seen earliest in the Sahel region, the Congolese rainforests and the tropical Indian and Atlantic oceans. Globally, abrupt ecological disruption is projected to spread from tropical ocean to land ecosystems as early as the 2040s under a high greenhouse gas emissions scenario. In South Africa, several places are at particular risk of abrupt disruption to biodiversity in a high-emissions scenario, including the coast from Cape Agulhas to Mozambique, inland areas on the western side of the Western Cape province up to the Namibian border, the entire Northern Cape province and parts of the Free State. The research indicates reducing emissions and delaying the onset of exposure to dangerous climate conditions, even if by a few decades, could buy valuable time for species to adapt.

Trisos hopes that the research will be a serious wake-up call. “I’m hoping that showing how terrifyingly widespread and close in time the risk is for biodiversity globally will help lead us towards positive tipping points in our response to divest from fossil fuel and transition to renewable energy.”

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Tshotsho gets a second chance AVRIL FILLIES AVRIL.FILLIES@MEDIA24.COM

N

ot everyone is privileged enough to get a second chance at doing what they love. And if you have been in the doldrums for two years, you lose hope of ever getting back into the game.

This is how the former Sevens player Tshotsho Mbovane felt before he was appointed as coach of the junior and senior Sevens team of the International Rugby Institute (IRI) in Pretoria.

“I am from Willowvale Nqadu in the Eastern Cape, but I was raised in Langa. Before being selected for the SA u.20 squad in 2012 (which won the Junior World Cup), I made my Sevens debut in 2011 against England in Adelaide. That was straight after high school. On my return to South Africa, I was injured in the u.21 Currie Cup semi-final for WP against the Sharks. While recovering from my injury, I was stabbed in Langa. I saw my dream of playing for SA in the Junior World Cup in 2012 in Cape Town disappear into thin air,” he says.

The then coach of the Junior Boks, Dawie Theron, gave him the opportunity to play in the Junior World Cup. Both Paul Treu (who was the Sevens coach at the time) and WP wanted his services. Mbovane was unhappy with WP’s offer and signed a twoyear contract with Sevens.

When Treu left in 2013, Mbovane says he was not part of the new coaching staff’s plans. With no WP contract in the pipeline, he was on loan to Boland before he left to join the Leopards until the end of the rugby season in 2014. At the end of 2014, he moved back to Cape Town where he played on WP’s Vodacom side.

Mbovane played in the Vodacom Cup again in 2015. However, he was not selected for the Stormers.

During this time, he also became a father.

Without a steady income, Mbovane landed on the streets in Langa.

He says that in the two years that he didn’t play for provincial teams (from 2016 to 2018), he learnt a lot about himself and decision making.

“I realised you must surround yourself with people who have the same goals and ambitions as you.”

The former Bok Thando Manana sports personality Robert Marawa both offered him second chances but Mbovane says he was still battling with his knee injury.

“I knew no provincial side would sign an injured player,” he says.

Instead – to support his two kids – he played for Villagers in Brookside, forming part of the team that regained their Super League status.

Mbovane left Villagers and returned to play for Langa in 2019 as the captain for the first three games, helping the team progress to Super League B. He says he struggled financially for two years before joining the IRI. In Pretoria, he plays for Naka Bulls Rugby Club and he got another chance at play-

ing rugby while coaching at the IRI. According to Mbovane, the highlights of his Sevens career was being part of the squad that lifted the Las Vegas trophy in the 2011/12 season and making the Dream Team in Gold Coast in Australia in 2012.

He says his lowest point was when Treu resigned as coach, leaving him in limbo.

“I still believe I have enough in the tank to be a force in rugby again, I only need to prove myself. At Sevens, Cecil Afrika and Paul Delport helped me in my darkest times.”

Mbovane says, in the past, as a non-white

rugby player, you had to go to a former Model C school to get noticed.

“I attended Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and progressed from each age level in WP until I became a Blitzbok,” he says.

At the IRI, he wants to give young players a fair chance in Sevens, no matter where they come from.

“There are a lot of African players at clubs in townships and all they need is an opportunity. I want to make sure these players also reach the same levels as their white counterparts at the IRI.”

Tshotsho Mbovane in action for the Blitzboks at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Club rugby shelved until Covid-19 restrictions are lifted Plans to start the Western Province (WP) Club Rugby season have been shelved until further notice.

It has been a uniquely challenging time, says WP Club Rugby manager Danny Jones.

“The past few weeks have been a most difficult time for our WP Club Rugby members during the Covid-19 pandemic and even more so during the lockdown in South Africa. Our members were all eager and ready for the 2020 season but unfortunately, these plans have to be shelved until further notice as we await further announcements from the government,” he stated.

Jones adds that plans are still being developed to ensure the season can commence, should it be safe to do so.

“The club rugby department developed various scenarios for when the season could possibly start and remain positive that club rugby will still be played this season.

“By all accounts, our members remain fired up for the 2020 season as we see even more player home training and coaches monitoring in play. Some clubs have had their strength and conditioning coaches send their players training programmes online and are monitoring their activity via WhatsApp,” he says.

Added to this, Jones says numerous coaches have been sharing and monitoring the dietary habits of their players.

“To support the clubs’ teams and player training activities, our coaches management team has sent many of the clubs the SuperSport Fitness Challenge programme. The programme is based on the same strength and fitness programmes our WP Rugby XV players have been using before the lockdown as they prepared for the SuperSport Challenge,” says Jones.

The Supersport Rugby Challenge fixtures in Cape Town were originally scheduled for Saturday 25 April (Charles Morkel

Stadium), 1 May (Avonwood Stadium), 10 May (Florida Park) and 30 May (Faure Street, Paarl), but have since been postponed by SA Rugby, to potentially take place from June to August as an alternative.

“We remain positive that the competition will continue after the lifting of the current lockdown on other future dates, but confirm that the venues as above will continue to host these matches,” Jones confirms.

Operations and administrative processes have had to alter in the wake of the extended lockdown period, as well as the subsequent plan to alleviate some of the restrictions.

“The past few weeks have moved our working method into a very electronic process as we now do regular online conference calls to upskill our coaches and management, many of these under the auspices of SA Rugby. In due course, we will

compile this knowledge bank and pass the structured information onto our club structures.

“Additional administration has continued on the Scrumit system and our clubs are reminded to upload their various club administrative documents onto the Scrumit system. These include the 2019 financial statements, updated constitution, minutes of annual general meetings (AGMs) held, and an updated list of their current executive committee,” Jones explains.

Applications for referee candidates are still open to clubs, while they should also still register their players.

“Clubs are also reminded to continue exploring the relationship with African Bank as our partnership continues. On a final note, I remind all our WP Club Rugby members to stay isolated and comply with all the current health and safety guidelines issued by the government.”