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.

Gender based-violence cases increase during lockdown level 3

By: Anelisa Sibanda

Twitter: @Anelisa_Sibanda

Anelisag98@gmail.com

Gender-based violence(GBV) is a widespread problem in South Africa impacting almost everyone in the country leaving South Africa as one of the countries with the highest levels of GBV in the world. This affects women and children more. Since the country entered level 3 of lock-down there has been a surge in gender-based violence.

 This spiked after a pregnant woman was found hanging in a tree in Dobsonville. Citizens took the social media streets with #WomenLivesMatter hashtag, calling for the police and government to take action and find the perpetrators so that families of victims get the justice they deserve.

 Sibonginkosi Ndebele(27) said that the law has to do more when it comes to GBV issues and change its approach, make amendments on its current standing that first time offenders are potentially third time offenders as well just because he was never reported before does not mean it is his first time doing it.

“The South African Police Services(SAPS) is not doing enough although they do try their best by issuing a warrant of arrest and the question remains; does the person have to be violent towards me for the police to take action and arrest the person?", noted Ndebele.

Ndebele also added that women and children are vulnerable in our society and that the government should at least form a unit which will only focus on GBV cases making the cases of those murdered by their partners a top priority.

 Hilda Ndlovu (37) said as a woman in South Africa does not feel safe walking around, be it during the day or at night because you never know what might happen to you. “The government is already doing something but they have to do more to fight the violence against children and women”, added Ndlovu.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1272055351618265089

   

Boven Makhube (28) said he is totally against men who abuse women and children because all lives matter hence no women should be abused. “My take on GBV is that it is one of the cruel things in the world, men should not make their voices to be heard through violence”, added Makhube.

Makhube added that background may also have an impact on some people, some become what they see however this should not be a justification to as to why they abuse women. “Our laws are very weak when it comes to prosecuting the perpetrators of gender-based violence”, noted Makhube

“The police also need to take a stand in fighting GBV had they be doing their job properly maybe the cases of gender based-violence in our country was not going to be this high. I loathe men who abuse and kill our women and children”, added Makhube.

 

 

Hospitals flood as alcohol sales restart in South Africa

By: Anelisa Sibanda
Twitter: @Anelisa_Sibanda
Anelisag98@gmail.com

South Africa moved to level 3 of lock down at the beginning of June and lifted the ban on alcohol. This has resulted in a lot of accidents happening in different parts of the country and more people being admitted to hospitals due to drinking irresponsibly. The number of violence cases has been rapidly increasing more especially after the ban on alcohol was lifted.

Bianca Banda(21), said alcohol has to be banned again as since the ban was lifted there has been a rise in violence cases and a lot of accidents have happened due to drinking and driving. “More people have been admitted in hospitals due to drinking irresponsible, flooding hospital beds which are meant for the people who are infected with COVID-19”, said Banda.

Pabalelo Mehlape (22), said that alcohol should not be banned as this will only increase the breaking in at liquor stores and that people will still buy alcohol backdoors. “Our economy is not stable right now and if alcohol is banned again our economy will go down as alcohol seems to be boosting our economy”, added Mehlape.

Vinolia Machava (23), believes that alcohol has to be banned as there is an over-excitement in people. “Intoxicated people cannot adhere to anything instead of drinking at home people now host parties which are not allowed under lockdown”, added Machava. Machava also noted that alcohol is not the reason behind gender-based but that it is a contributing factor to it.

Primrose Moluoane(21) noted that people are not complying with the laws which came with the resell of alcohol hence they put their lives and those next to them in danger. “As much as alcohol is good for our economy it puts other people’s lives in danger, for instance, a lot of accidents happened due to drinking and driving”, added Moluoane.  

Anwen Mojela gives her opinion on alcohol ban.

https://soundcloud.com/anelisag98/aud-20200610-wa0002

 

Schools reopen amid pandemic for grade 7 and 12

By:Anelisa Sibanda
Anelisag98@gmail.com
Anelisa_Sibanda

Thousands of learners in grade 7 and 12 returned to school today for the first time since March after a national lockdown was introduced to help curb the virus. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga urged that the academic year has to be saved. She ensured the parents that the majority of schools are ready to reopen and precautionary measures will be taken to make sure that learners are safe as they return to school. Motshekga also said parents who do not feel safe with sending their children to school must register them for home-schooling so that they are not left behind.

However, not all parents were happy to send their children back to school saying that the cases of corona are rapidly increasing in the country.







Grade7 learner, Mbalenhle Nkala

Mbalenhle Nkala(12) a grade 7 learner at Learnmore Institute said that she was happy about going back to school today after staying home for 2 months. "Before we got into the school transport in the morning we were sanitized, and we sat far away from each other", said Mbalenhle.
Nkala also added that their temperatures were checked prior to entering the school premises and that they sat a meter part from each other in class.

 

Thandeka Msiza(20), grade 12 at Athlone Girls High School says that for her being sent back to school is like being thrown in a cell with corona as a cellmate and that had she had a choice she was not going to go back to school but because she is a matriculant. "I use public transport to get to school and I do not know whether it has been disinfected or not, the school only asks us if we have been in contact with someone who is infected? and how are we to know that?, said Msiza.
Msiza said that teachers look prepared but there is no testing or whatsoever which is done it's just mere temperature check.






Grade 12 teacher at Siyabonga High School

Lucia Dube(40) a mother of a child in the 6th grade said she doesn't feel safe with sending kids back to school, "schools are too crowded and teachers might not be able to control them especially the ones in grade7". Dube also added that they can not expect us to send our children to school when the parliament is closed because of the virus.



Gcina Zondo(26) a teacher at Siyabonga High School said that their school has taken precautionary measure to ensure the safety of learners and staff members. "We have sanitizing stations for our learners outside the classroom to protect the learners, learners were also given masks, 2 per learner as well as teachers", said Zondo.
Zondo also added that the number of learners in each classroom has been reduced to a minimum of 20 and 25 maximum learners in the classroom. "Learners also get to fill in screening forms to make sure that they do not have COVID-19 symptoms and all classrooms have masks", added Zondo.


Bonga Magagula(24) a teacher said that will learners be sanitized daily prior to entering the school? who will monitor them to make sure that they practice social distancing?
Magagula also added that reopening of schools is both a good and bad thing, the good being that children are always in the street and sending them to school will help them keep busy and the bad being that some teachers and students use public transport and chances of contracting the virus is very high.

What does lockdown mean to our economy?

Anelisa Sibanda
Anelisag98@gmail.com
Anelisa_Sibanda


The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa announced National Lockdown due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic virus. The virus has been there for a long time, but this one is a new trend named Coronavirus disease 19, because it was discovered in 2019
 The shutdown which  effectively started on the 27th of March 2020 and is expected to last until the 16th of April 2020.


Street vendors tries to make end meet
Taken from Twitter

However, the announcement was met with mixed reactions some said it will affect the economy which is already affected whilst others thought that it is a good way to curb the virus.

Sinenhlanhla Mkhize(21), a journalist at South Coast Sun said "lockdown is a good call to make, I am highly worried that our state did not focus on what will be done during this 21 day period. Plans put in order to reduce the spread of this pandemic are weak-in my perspective".

Mkhize also said China conducted door to door tests and built hospitals which took in patients who were found with the symptoms(only symptoms) during the door to door tests. "We are slow as a country, unfortunately, the pandemic will not wait for us, as for the economy-time will be the tale-teller", added Mkhize.


Current rate of the Rand against the USD

Zinhle Sibanyoni(22), a third-year journalism student at the Tshwane University of Technology(TUT) said that how will the country run during the lockdown as they are used to importing goods from other countries? This will only put a strain on the economy, as it is the Rand went from R14 against the USD to R17,73 within 2 days what will happen in the next coming days?

Anwen Mojela(24), an intern journalist at Letaba said, "It will affect the economy and most likely to lead it to junk status, the lockdown will only make it worse as it has been bad already.
Mojela also said that the lockdown will help curb the spread of the virus, that's one thing good about it.

A second-year Public Relation student at the University of Johannesburg Rethabile Kgomo(19) said, "the economic cycle is likely to face a depression phase where people will lose their jobs, businesses will collapse due to lack of income".



Kgomo also said that street vendors will be
affected the most as their source of income is in the streets, hence the lockdown will make them run at a loss.
 People have been urged to adhere to the lockdown laws and stay at home in order to prevent the spread of the virus.