PW_MAIN_E1_160520_ALL-1

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4 SATURDAY, MAY 16 2020 | PRETORIA NEWS MMETRO When you are asked if you can do a job, tell ‘em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it THEODORE ROOSEVELT ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA DEALING WITH A JOB LOSS KNOWING why a job loss makes us feel so awful is key to understanding how to deal with it. The emotional turmoil we experience when losing a job creates the same grief as losing a loved one. Go to: www.iol.co.za/personal-finance/guides ‘Pandemic could last for years’ IT COULD be four to five years before the Covid-19 pandemic is completely under control, a senior global health official has warned. But with hopes of an end to the pandemic dependent on containing the virus and development of an effective vaccine, other experts have dampened expectations of putting a date on curbing the virus. There are globally more than 4.44 million confirmed Covid-19 cases, with the death toll now past 300 000. Addressing the Financial Times’s Global Boardroom Digital Conference, World Health Organization (WHO) chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said: “I would say in a four- to five-year time frame we could be looking at controlling this.”Influential factors include whether the virus matures, the containment measures put in place and the development of a vaccine” She added that a vaccine “seems for now the best way out”, but there were “lots of ifs and buts” about its efficacy and safety, as well as its production and equitable distribution. Asked about Swaminathan’s comments during a regular WHO’s briefing from Geneva, Dr Mike Ryan, who heads up the organisation’s health emergencies programme, said no one could predict when the disease would disappear. But he also issued a warning about easing lockdown measures without appropriate surveillance measures in place, adding: “We should not be waiting to see if the opening of lockdowns have worked.” “We have a new virus entering the human population for the first time, and therefore it is very hard to predict when we will prevail over it, Ryan said. “What is clear, and I think maybe what Soumya (Swaminathan) may have been alluding to, is that the number of people in our population who’ve been infected is actually relatively low. “And if you’re a scientist and you project forward in the absence of a vaccine, and you try to calculate how long is it going to take for enough people to be infected so that this disease settles into an endemic trace… “This virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities. And this virus may never go away. “HIV has not gone away; we’ve come to terms with the virus and we have found the therapies and we found the prevention methods, and people don’t feel as scared as they did before. And we’re offering a long, healthy life to people with HIV. “I don’t think anyone can predict when or if this disease will disappear. We do have one great hope: if we do find a highly effective vaccine that we can distribute to everyone who needs it in the world, we may have a shot at eliminating this virus,” Ryan said. But, he said, there were effective vaccines for other diseases which had not been used effectively so even if science finds a vaccine for Covid-19, there must be a determination to invest in health systems to deliver it. | Daily Mail Lockdown role for trainees ENFORCING lockdown regulations will be one of the tasks of 171 Tshwane metro police trainees who have been absorbed into the city’s workforce. The SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in Tshwane welcomed the trainees’ inclusion in the workforce, which ends a long dispute over delays in hiring them after they completed traffic management diplomas last year. This week, Human Settlements- MEC Lebogang Maile said: “These new recruits will reinforce the city’s by-law enforcement capacity, including strengthening the city’s capacity to fight against illegal land and building invasions, vandalism of state assets and the enforcement of lockdown regulations.” Samwu spokesperson Nkhetheni Muthavhi said the decision to hire them was long overdue, after they repeated courses they had failed. He hoped it would open the way for the absorption of other trainees such as meter readers. | Rapula Moatshe • TRAVEL Physical distancing to hit airfares WITH temperature screening and the wearing of masks now commonplace at airports because of the global Covid- 19 pandemic, the head of Dubai airport has warned that physical distancing could make flying more expensive. Around the world, governments, airports and airlines are considering temporary safety measures to restart air travel, including mandatory temperature checks, the wearing of face masks and keeping passengers apart. “We are going to have to take whatever measures are necessary to protect the travelling public and our staff,” chief executive Paul Griffiths said. Dubai International, one of the world’s busiest airports, suspended passenger services in late March as the United Arab Emirates took drastic measures to contain the virus. The UAE has since allowed some repatriation flights and eased other restrictions in the Gulf state, though it is not clear when normal flights will restart. Temporary safety measures should be expected as flights resume, but Griffiths cautioned that physical distancing rules would eventually limit growth as demand rebounded. “We will not be able to operate at anything close to our original design capacity if we have to maintain social distancing,” he said. LOOKING BACK ON LEVEL 4 A chronology of events and developments over the past two weeks, looking ahead to level 3 ON Wednesday this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa once again addressed the nation. Here are the highlights of the past period in the country’s fight against Covid-19. FRIDAY, MAY 1 - SUNDAY, MAY 3 Level 4 lockdown begins. Major roads busy as people travel between regions ahead of returning to work. Outdoor exercise allowed between 6am and 9am and there is a rush on malls for the sale of winter clothing, bedding, hardware and office supplies. MONDAY, MAY 4 Back to work day for more than one million South Africans, with health and safety guidelines clearly set out. The president, in his weekly newsletter, says the continued prohibition of cigarette sales was a collective decision, not made by Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma TUESDAY, MAY 5 National Treasury and the SA Revenue Service (Sars) brief Parliament’s finance committees on impact of lockdown. Finance Minister Tito Mboweni calls for the economy to be reopened, echoing calls from business to lower level 4 restrictions. A number of publishers announce the closure of their magazines. THURSDAY, MAY 7 Business confidence dropped to an all-time low in April, according to an index compiled by the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Department of Basic Education warns against premature reopening of schools. FRIDAY MAY 8 Ramaphosa announces a parole dispensation for selected categories of sentenced offenders in high-risk facilities. He also holds a virtual consultative meeting with heads of state and government from neighbouring countries. DA leader John Steenhuisen calls on government to “end the lockdown crisis” leading to Mboweni telling him to “stay in your lane”. The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has disbursed almost R9.5 billion through the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme. TUESDAY, MAY 12 International Nurses’ Day takes on special significance during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. In his address in Durban, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize refers to COMMUTERS for the Rea Vaya buses walk through a sanitising tunnel in Soweto. | GCIS A MAN is screened for Covid-19. the critical role that nurses play in protecting and caring for our communities, and the special importance they have at this time of the fight against the pandemic. SOON, mandatory masks may not be the only ‘barrier’ to air travel. | AP Physical distancing could also increase airfares if airlines were restricted to selling fewer tickets in order to keep some seats empty, Griffiths said. But until there was a vaccine, treatment or reliable, quick method to detect the virus, measures that reduced the risk of contagion would need to be enforced, Griffiths said. It is unclear when global travel will recover from the pandemic, which has shattered demand, as this will partially depend on countries lifting their lockdowns. Regaining public confidence in the safety of air travel is seen by the aviation industry as a significant challenge. | REUTERS After confusion clarity on what winter clothing, footwear and bedding may be sold is given in directions gazetted by Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel. A NURSE lights a candle to mark International Nurses’ Day. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 Global infections of Covid-19 stand at 4 429 810, with deaths at 298 174. In SA, the figures are 12 074 cases with GlamourSouthAfrica glamour_sa glamour_sa PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Wednesday about the gradual lifting of level 4 of lockdown. | GCIS 219 deaths, but Mkhize says without lockdown, at least 80 000 South Africans could have been infected with Covid-19 and the death toll could have been much higher. The South African Social Security (Sassa) says that over 1 million people applied for the R350 coronavirus grant, although more than half did not qualify. President addresses the nation. He announces some changes would be made to level 4 restrictions and that most of South Africa will move to level 3 restrictions at the end of May. His speech is short on details – to be clarified in the days ahead. THURSDAY, MAY 14 The 95th running of the Comrades Marathon, scheduled for next month, is officially cancelled. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga postpones plans to announce the re-opening of schools. She has convened a meeting of the Council of Education Ministers (CRM) on Monday to consider the progress towards the reopening of schools. Government lifts restrictions on e-commerce, allowing online stores to sell everything except alcohol and cigarettes. FRIDAY, MAY 15 The start of week 8 of the national lockdown. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula continues his inspection of public transport readiness while Ramaphosa has a virtual meeting with Nedlac to plan for the further easing of restrictions. Pretoria High court orders armed forces to toe the line during lockdown.
PRETORIA NEWS | Saturday, May 16 2020 5 It is a golden maxim to cultivate the garden for the nose, and the eyes will take care of themselves ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA REDESIGN YOUR GARDEN FOR those of us who have gardens, it is a great time to redesign areas that have looked neglected. We cannot use the excuse that we don’t have time and are too busy. Go to: www.iol.co.za/ios/arts MMETRO • CYBERSECURITY LAID BACK Five ways to help your kids stay safe online WITH Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to address the nation on the reopening of schools soon, Anna Collard has provided tips for parents, teachers and learners on how to move forward. The Covid-19 pandemic has put school in the bedroom, study, kitchen, backyard and lounge. Parents and learners are figuring out how to juggle home working and full-time schooling from within the confines of the home and, let’s face it, it’s hard. Schedules clash, the internet crashes, time is in short supply and the learning curve is steep. But, there’s more. As online learning becomes more prevalent and children become more active online, there are risks. Cyberbulling, hacking, phishing, credential theft – these are all risks that come hand in hand with any login, virtual conference or platform. Parents, stop. This does not have to be another thing to worry about. “While it is incredibly important to be aware of the threats and to have systems in place to protect your kids and your online life, it isn’t rocket science,” said Collard, chief executive of Popcorn Training, a subsidiary of KnowBe4. “A secure and safe online life can be established following basic steps and by being aware of the dangers.” 1. Educate yourself Did you know that you can hover over a link to see if it’s legitimate? Sometimes cybercriminals will send you fake links to well-known virtual conferencing platforms that ask you to sign in. This is a form of phishing that results in stolen credentials that can be used to hack into your accounts – especially if you use the same password for multiple sites. The most important security risks you need to know about are: Phishing – where cybercriminals use emotion and clever tricks to con you into sharing your login credentials with fake sites or trick you into opening up an infected attachment. Cyberbullying – where other children or adults attack people online. This can have serious emotional and mental consequences. Leaves the powerhouse for the rose Manage pests using insect spray with low toxicity, so it’s safe for all the other plants BY MAY, the rose season is almost at an end and you can look back with satisfaction (or score the garden a six out of 10, which means, “Can do better”). Healthy leaves are the powerhouse for the rose. If they are stunted, diseased or drop off, the performance of the rose suffers. From interaction with rose gardeners I have become aware of several factors that affect leaves. Thrips Thrips has become a huge problem and virtually no rose garden is spared from this pest. Thrips deforms the leaves, making them smaller, chlorotic and distorted. It also affects the buds and blooms. Larvae are invisible during the first stage, nestling in the leaf nodes further down the plant, and migrate upwards during their second feeding stage to suck the sap out of the growing tips. The best cure is prevention, and the most effective action is to drench the soil with Koinor in August and December, as this systemic insecticide has a long-lasting action. Being systemic, it gets to the hidden larvae that garden sprays can’t always reach. Treatment is 2ml Koinor to 1 litre water per bush. Another option is weekly spraying with Ludwig’s Insect Spray. The garlic in the spray will bring them out from among the petals, and the oil and pyrethroid will make it uncomfortable for them and kill them off. This product • RESCUE RESCUED dog Lulu GARDENING TANYA VISSER has a very low toxicity and can be safely used by organic gardeners. Red spider mite Red spider mite loves hot, dry conditions, especially if roses are in pots against a hot wall. We have had plenty of heat this season and gardeners have reported rapid outbreaks. Leaves infected by spider mite look stippled, then turn yellow and dry out, finally dropping off the bush. Spraying twice a month with Ludwig’s Insect Spray will prevent light infestations, provided the bushes are regularly watered. For severe infestations, spray with a double dose (80ml in 5 litres water) and make sure the underside of the leaves are drenched. Repeat a week later since the sticky oil does not control the eggs that have been laid and from Hacking – gaining access to systems and accounts and using the information to steal money, identities and data. Malware – risky software that can lock your computer (ransomware), destroy your system (virus) and so much more. Don’t click on links or images from people you don’t know or in emails that look strange or you haven’t expected. 2 . Get digitally savvy Look after your digital identity. Your password is the last, great defence between your information and the cybercriminal. Do you really want to risk your money, information, child’s information and identity by using the password “12345”? Lots of people do. Use a really good password that consists of up to 12 letters by using a phrase or a line of a song and then don’t use it across multiple accounts. One password per account. To make this easier, invest in a reliable password manager that will help you create and manage your logins. which the next generation will hatch. Rose tasks for May Reduce watering to once a week, but water deeply. No need to fertilise, except in Kwa- Zulu-Natal and the Lowveld. Heavy dew overnight makes 3 . Use multi-factor authentication This is combining your password with something that you own, such as a one-time password app on your phone. Most sites such as Gmail, Facebook, Instagram support this. You may think that younger kids won’t really understand this, but children are remarkably resilient and capable. If you can instil strong security skills into your kids at a young age, you’ll have set them up for a secure life. Show them how multi-factor authentication works. 4 . Set up parental controls Parental controls on home devices like your computers, mobile phones and tablets as well as gaming consoles help parents protect children from inappropriate content, such as pornography or other adult content. Parental controls can also be set on Google, YouTube and enforced via dedicated apps that allow parents to monitor activity, ensure children access only age-appropriate content and set usage times. roses more susceptible to black spot. Spray once a month with Chronos or Rose Protector. Eradicate aphids by spraying every two weeks with Ludwig’s Insect Spray. Transplant roses that are not getting enough sun or are suffering 5 . Create a family online contract It’s hard for kids to sometimes share things that have happened to them online. It’s equally difficult for parents to keep track of everything their children are doing online. To combat this, create a digital contract that allows for you to build trust and openly share concerns. This contract could include information like: Never meet anyone you met online in real life without parental permission Don’t share anything online that you wouldn’t share with your parent Talk about anything that happens that makes you feel uncomfortable The signs of cyberbullying The rules of online behaviour No go zones “If you work together to create and stick to a digital contract, then you’re building trust and a safety net for one another. “Let the kids choose the rules too – they often know things parents don’t,” said Collard. from root competition. Keep deadheading to encourage new blooms. For more tips on gardening, visit www.tanyavisser.com or www.thegardener.co.za and download your free Survival Guide on gardening. Lockdown dog Lulu finds new home LISA ISAACS RESCUED from the rubbish in February, Lulu the lockdown dog has become something of a mascot of hope for residents of Cape Town. Images of the scraggly dog bundled into a rubbish bag with other waste and dumped in Mitchells Plain captured the attention of residents. Ricardo Daniel heard her muffled cries and, on investigation, saw the bedraggled dog. He reported the incident to a crime group on WhatsApp and he was given the SPCA’s number to call. The small mixed-breed dog was admitted to the SPCA’s animal hospital and treated for an infection as a result of her matted coat being infested with ticks and fleas. Despite the trauma, the dog given the name Lulu was patient while under the treatment and care of Dr Sunaina Jain. Now she is loved beyond measure by her new owner Andy Hauke and is, slowly but surely, winning her fur-sibling over, the organisation said. “Lulu is incredibly affectionate, playful and just the cutest girl,” Hauke said. HEALTHY leaves make for a healthy rose bush. Recent photos show Lulu being lavished with love during the lockdown. “Your support gave Lulu the chance to receive the life-saving treatment which brought her back from the brink of certain death had we not stepped in,” the SPCA said. “Thank you for allowing our team to continue helping animals just like Lulu who need us more than ever at this time.” Abandonment is a crime in terms of the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962 and those found guilty of contravention could face a fine of R40 000 and/or a prison term of 12 months. WE’LL MEET AGAIN SOME SUNNY DAY… A BIT LATER JOUBERT MALHERBE THE WORLD has surely changed in the wake of the outbreak of the Covid- 19, I thought to myself the other day when I took a rare trip to the mall to get some “bare necessities”. I first went to the DIY store to get a measuring tape and as I got in, the formidable woman at the door said she had to spray my hands with sweet smelling sanitiser. I then popped into Woollies next door where the gent at the front moved to do the same. I told him I had been done next door and he said fine, but instructed me to put on my mask properly (over the bridge of the nose). Well, the outbreak of the pandemic has been a real boon for the manufacturers of the sprays. They are a bit sickly sweet and leave you smelling as if you had applied toilet cleaner. With the advent of the cold, darker mornings, I thought all along that the 6am to 9am slot for exercising (ie, jogging, or taking the dogs for a walk) was ill thought out, to say the least, and a truly case of the nanny state gone mad. I recalled the song by The Motels, Total Control. To stay on the right side of the law, we’ve been taking the dogs on our morning strolls in the allotted time and it has been rather strange to see just how walking has taken off following the move to level 4. I wait in anticipation to see what changes there will be regarding exercising, as were mooted when the president spoke on Wednesday evening. The effect of the lockdown has been pretty disastrous all over, employment-wise especially. In South Africa, we heard that by the start of this week, 120 companies had gone into business rescue. Let’s hope the softening of restrictions at the end of May will help to boost the economy; not least the wine trade, if… Further afield, an auspicious occasion badly affected by lockdown was in the UK where the 75th commemoration of VE Day (WW II Victory in Europe) was marked last Friday. There was a spectacular Red Arrow flypast, but no street parties for which the Brits are renowned. Instead, TV news bulletins showed footage of people celebrating in the front gardens and driveways, chatting over their garden fences and sharing sandwiches, cakes, teas and, of course, champagne. I remember when the 50th anniversary of VE Day was held in 1995 in Hassocks, Sussex, where we lived at the time. The outside walls of terraced houses in our street (Parklands Road) were all decorated with bunting, and it was truly festive. On the night of May 8, a fireworks display was held in a field next to the village at the foot of the South Downs. The song that rang out repeatedly – as it did again last week – was Dame Vera Lynn’s classic We’ll Meet Again. What made it all the more poignant was that Dame Vera (who got a nod from Pink Floyd on their classic album, The Wall), lived in the neighbouring village of Ditchling. Now 103 years old, she sang it again last week, while standing at her front door. The Queen – who is in her 90s – made her VE Day speech from her study at Windsor and I was quite moved, especially when I realised that this was probably one of HRH’s final public speeches. Although she made no specific reference to the corona pandemic, she alluded to the fact it was vital this new enemy be defeated in a joint effort by us all. As the song says; “we’ll meet again/ some sunny day”. * RIP Little Richard… thanks for the great music, Sir. “Awobopaloobop Alopbanboom”, indeed.
Page 1 and 2: — FOUNDED 1898, PRETORIA, SOUTH A
Page 3: PRETORIA NEWS | Saturday, May 16 20
Page 7 and 8: PRETORIA NEWS | Saturday, May 16 20
Page 9 and 10: AFFLUENCE | Saturday, May 16 2020 9
Page 11 and 12: PRETORIA NEWS, SATURDAY MAY 16, 202

PW_MAIN_E1_160520_ALL-1

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?