TUT senior students set to return to their respective residences

 By: Anelisa Sibanda

Email: Anelisag98@gmail.com

Twitter: @Anelisa_Sibanda

Tshwane University of Technology students are set to return to campus after the university was closed in March this year due to COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Most students have been eager to return to their residences as they claim to study better there than being at home. Only seniors and first-year students are to return from the 26th of this month.

Zinhle Sibanyoni (22), a final-year journalism student at TUT said social distancing will be hard for some students since it is something new. “Staying at home makes me not see a brighter future for myself, I can work a lot better when I am my residence, there is peace there,” said Sibanyoni.

Nomathamsanqa Sikhana (24), a second-year Information Technology at TUT said that everyone is excited to be going back to their respective residences because they will all have their freedom. “Adhering to the regulations will not be easy for some students and going back to our residence is quite alarming, one may even get infected there,” said Sikhana.

19-year old Mamsi Nkosi who is also a TUT student doing her first year in journalism said she feels relieved to be returning to her residence after 5 months of staying at home because that way she will be able to study.

 “Maintaining social distance and all will be very difficult, students will be too excited and visiting their friends in other rooms and that will increase the chances of spreading the  virus among students

 

South Africa moves to level 2 of lockdown

By: Anelisa Sibanda

Email: Anelisag98@gmail.com

Twitter: @Anelisa_Sibanda

South Africa has been under lockdown for over six months now. The president, Cyril Ramaphosa announced different levels of the lockdown to help curb the virus. Most citizens have been abiding by the rules whereas others have not been, things slightly changed when the nation recently moved to level 2 of the lockdown on the 18th of August 2020.

The president announced that during level 2 the economy will be opened as well as many facilities and that has made a lot of people relax, and think that the virus is gone when in fact it is still there although the recovery rate is high.

Sandile Shongwe (37) said he is happy that the economy has been opened and that way people will be able to go back to work and support their families. “Moving down to level 2 does not mean that the virus has also downgraded, we need to continue protecting ourselves against the deadly virus’” said Shongwe.

Soshanguve resident, Nelisiwe Gumede (28) said that people are acting as if the virus is gone when it’s still there. “Most people do not see the need to wear their face masks when in public space unless when entering shops and such will only increase chances of people being infected,” said Gumede. Gumede also added that people now gather and chill and do not practice social distancing as advised by the government.

13-year old Kgothatso Medupe said that he does not leave the house unless he is going to school. “My parents are very concerned about my health, I am not allowed to go play with the other kids outside as they fear that I might get infected and infect everyone at home,” said Medupe. Medupe also added that he is fine with staying indoors and does not want to risk his family’s health.

Gender-based violence; a pandemic in South Africa

By: Anelisa Sibanda

Email: Anelisag98@gmail.com

Twitter:@ Anelisa_Sibanda

Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 9th of August. This day is to honour and celebrate women in the country, however, women in South Africa feel as if there is no need to celebrate this day as their rights are not considered.

 Women die every day in the hands of men in South Africa. Statistics show that South Africa has the highest number of gender-based violence in the world, including rape and domestic violence. 

 Sbongakonke Dlamini (30) tells on how scary it is to be a woman in this country. “We live in fear, we are afraid that we might be the next victims of gbv,” said Dlamini. Dlaminiadded that the government should do something to ensure that all women are safe in the country.

 Nokubonga Ndlala(23) a final year Education student at TUT said she does not feel at ease walking around, let alone be in a taxi that is full of men as she does not know what might happen to her. 

 “The government isn’t doing enough to help stop gbv, not enough measuresare taken to deal with the perpetrators, they are not given enough punishment,” said Ndlala. 

Ndlala also added that communities should learn the whistle challenge which is used to alert community members of any type of crime taking place in the community and help catch the perpetrator Walking to the shop is a nightmare as they might be the next, they always live in fear. 

 

“I am even afraid to leave for school next year, every day on the news there is a woman who has been murdered,” said 20-year-old Nkosinomusa Ngwenya. Ngwenya also said she has stopped watching the news as they more fear and panic and that she is living her life like it is the last day of being alive.

Testing positive for COVID-19 is not a death sentence

By: Anelisa Sibanda

Twitter: Anelisa_Sibanda

Email address: anelisag98@gmail.com

21-year-old Thamsanqa Ndlovu recently tested positive for COVID-19 even though he took all the precautionary measures to protect himself.

“I was screened at work, which is a normal procedure that we follow lately and my temperature was very high and they suggested that I get tested, which I did," said Ndlovu.

After testing, Ndlovu says he waited for the results eagerly and they came back after 2 days saying that he was indeed positive. I was shocked and frightened and wondered how I got the virus because I made for sure to protect myself from it, added Ndlovu.

Ndlovu also added that he wore his mask in public, made sure to practice social distancing and did everything which the government said must be done. 

.

“I was taken to a place of quarantine where I was told that it was just a mild one and hearing that kept me calm."

"Being kept in a quarantine facility where visitors are not allowed shuttered me as I hoped to see my family come to visit me but I was also happy because I did not want to infect them," said Ndlovu.

The period of 14 days passed and I got to retest again to see if had recovered or not and surprisingly I tested negative and that on its own was a life-changing thing. I was not out of the woods yet but at least I got to go home to be with my family, added Ndlovu.

Ndlovu also noted that no one in his family was infected after he had tested positive as they all followed precautionary measures to help curb the virus.

“People need to take the virus seriously, it exists and it’s deadly”

 

Thamsanqa Ndlovu.

As of the 18 of July COVID-19 cases were standing at 350 879 with 13 285 cases and 13 876 441 cases globally with 593 087 deaths. "We do not have a vaccine.We do not have a cure.Our ability to break the cycle of infection depends on our willingness to remain focused and disciplined and take non-pharmaceutical interventions seriously," said the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize.

 

South Africans remember Madiba

  By: Anelisa Sibanda

Twitter: Anelisa_Sibanda

Email: anelisag98@gmail.com

On this day, the 18th of July South Africans celebrate the life of the former President Nelson Mandela who fought tirelessly for the liberation of South Africa. People do different things to honour him and use their 67 minutes to help those in need. Lockdown has changed how people commemorate the day, some took a step to donate money to the needy rather than going to help at centres and different places.

Mandela Day is known internationally, it is the birthday of the late Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa. He is celebrated because of the good things he did during the apartheid era and also for fighting for the people’s rights.

Zuzeni Mncube (21) said the day is important to South Africans but feels like it is being over celebrated. “It is time to celebrate other comrades who also fought for the struggle, Madiba was not the only one who fought so why not celebrate other fighters as much as we celebrate him?" , added Mncube.

Luvuyo Sibeko (28) said Mandela Day has to be celebrated however it is not mandatory to do so. “People have to do good for other people daily not only on Mandela Day, but this also has to be done to show humility," added Sibeko.

Kgomotso Phoko and Siphumelele Ndelu also shared their views about this day, link below.

 https://soundcloud.com/anelisag98/kgomotsophoko

https://soundcloud.com/anelisag98/siphumelelendelu

Katleho Ngobese (25) said that he celebrated his day by helping the needy. “Every year on this day I volunteer at different organizations and give help where I can be it cleaning or feeding the less fortunate, "noted Ngobese.

Ngobese also noted that people should not only see this day as celebrating Mandela but as a day to bring change to someone's life.

SADTU calls Motshekga to close schools

By: Anelisa Sibanda

Twitter: Anelisa_Sibanda

Email address: anelisag98@gmail.com

Minister of Basic Department of Education Angie Motshekga, ordered that schools may be open to save the academic year. Different grades have been gradually returning to school amid the pandemic after government closed schools in March.

Minister of Basic Education- Angie Motsheka

However, the South African Democratic Teachers Union well known as SADTU has ordered the Minister to reconsider this and close schools until the peak season of the virus is over. Their concerned was that there has been a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases and that puts both the learners and teachers at risk. 

 

"The union is that the closure is extremely urgent in order to avoid to further losses of lives in our communities and to fix the education system," said SADTU.

Most parents have been skeptical about sending their kids back to school as they fear for their children’s lives.

School practice safety measures before learners enter the premises

Sanele Mchunu (38), a mother of two said that she would rather have her children repeat the same grades next year rather than losing them to the deadly virus. “My kids should stay at home, sending them to school right now will only put them at risk, a grade can be repeated but I cannot get my children back once I lose them to the virus”, added Mchunu.

taken from google

Michael Sikhosana (18), a grade 12 learner at Phoenix High School said as much as he wants to complete his matric this year he does not mind completing it next year rather than risking being infected. “Had I had a choice I was not going to go to school, however, I do not hence I am going to school. 

We do take all the precautionary measures but you may never know who has the virus and who does not as there is no testing done at school," added Sikhosana.

Is June 16 still worth being celebrated?

By:Anelisa Sibanda

Twitter: @Anelisa_Sibanda

Anelisag98@gmail.com

Today marks 44 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising. It is the day where young people South Africa fought against inequalities and discrimination which they faced. The youth of 1976 fought for a better South Africa, which is what is it today. Lives were lost to make sure that there is better education for people.

Zwelithini Mahlangu (21), said a lot of young people today compare themselves to the youth of 1976 they use the hashtags #FeesMustFall and others. “My question is, did they get what they were fighting for? Because if they did inequality was not going to exist today”, noted Mahlangu.

Mahlangu also said that many young people died fighting for a better South Africa and yet even today young people are still fighting, stating that there isn’t anything to celebrate after 44 years.

Fortunate Mbuyane (22) said there is no use to celebrate as they fought for education and got it but it is still not good enough to secure a better future. “We are still following the same route they used back then, we are still doing what they did. We graduate and then what? Stay at home and sell stuff by the robots”, noted Mbuyane.

Mbuyane added that the young people graduate and when they knock on doors they are told that there is no work then what is there to celebrate when people are still unemployed after graduating.

Privilege Ramakokovhu (22) said there is no reason to celebrate reason being that young people are not considered much in politics, instead of talking to them they talk about them.

“We are not considered in employment, today unemployment is the youth’s worst enemy, we are still struggling and there is no freedom really”, noted Ramakokovhu.

Ramakokovhu stated that young people are not given an equal opportunity to get access to employment and other leadership spaces to occupy

Kagiso Masilela(20) said this day has to be celebrated in commemoration of the young people who were brave enough to fight against inequalities and a better educational system hence we have to pay tribute to the young heroes and heroines who lost their lives.