Thursday, May 7 2020

Ideas FREE

Sums of our fears: why sending kids back to school is a terrible idea

It’s clear that government officials don’t care about teachers’ mental health or pupils’ emotional health

Jonathan Jansen

Columnist

5 min read

News FREE

No back to school until basics sorted, says survey-wielding Sadtu

Little indication of when schools will reopen, with teacher bodies saying requirements must be met before they return

Prega Govender

Journalist

4 min read

News FREE

‘I’m not used to this much’: what R740 means to SA’s poorest

Relief that is all too temporary arrives as long queues form in the wake of Sassa’s grant-payment glitches

By Nonkululeko Njilo and Shonisani Tshikalange

3 min read

News FREE

No fittings? No returns? These are your lockdown clothes-buying rights

While some clothing shops are bowing to consumers’ demands, it’s best to know exactly where you stand

Wendy Knowler

Consumer journalist

5 min read

News FREE

Fur babies are also feeling the Covid blues

Noticed something unusual about your pup? Lockdown stress can make your pet sick

Alex Patrick

Reporter

3 min read

News FREE

Cold winds blow for tobacco, wine farmers as bans stay put

Government clarifies the rules to protect food chain, but farmers say they are still facing problems

Paul Ash

Senior reporter

4 min read

News FREE

Saffers think post-pandemic with eye on property market

Estate agents are still receiving queries from potential homeowners despite the Covid-19 crisis

Suthentira Govender

Senior reporter

3 min read

News FREE

It’s not okay to compare lockdown with Holocaust, says Jewish group

Society is becoming increasingly casual and disrespectful to the mass murder of millions: SAJBD

Zimasa Matiwane

Reporter

1 min read

News

Teen pilot breaks her new plane after forgetting how the brakes work

Report lays out disastrous landing attempt that left a battered two-seater and gouges in the tarmac

Dave Chambers

Cape Town bureau chief

2 min read

Hotel burglars make beeline for beverages

Booze was first on the list of goods targeted by an armed gang during a burglary at a North West hotel during the lockdown curfew. “The suspects immediately searched for alcohol and found some beer that was left in the fridges, as most of the alcohol had already been removed from the premises before the national lockdown,” said Priya Naidoo, GM of marketing at Tsogo Sun Hotels. Naidoo said the StayEasy hotel in Rustenburg was closed at the time. Beers, TV sets and other hotel equipment were stolen.

Tobacco group halts court action on ciggie bn

British American Tobacco SA (Batsa) has decided to hold back on challenging the government in court for extending the ban on cigarette sales. Batsa said on Wednesday that it was no longer taking its fight to court after receiving a response from the government to its formal letter seeking answers on April 30. Instead, the company said “at this stage” it was willing to work with the government to find solutions rather than pursue legal action.

Migrants escape while awaiting deportation

A group of undocumented foreigners awaiting deportation have escaped from the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp. Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi visited the centre on Wednesday after reports that the group of about 37 fled at the weekend. Motsoaledi revealed that they escaped as security guards downed tools because they were not given protective gear to prevent them contracting Covid-19. In a video clip shared by Newzroom Afrika, Motsoaledi said: “This escape was not meant to have happened. It’s collateral damage between the workers and their company.”

Cash-strapped Sascoc braces for R8m loss

The cash-strapped SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) says it expects to post a deficit of more than R8m in the coming financial year‚ warning it might not be able to send a team to the age-group Region 5 Games in Lesotho later in 2020. Acting CEO Ravi Govender said the projected income for the year ending March 31 was R39.3m‚ with R17m set to come from the International Olympic Committee‚ R11.2m from the department of sports‚ R5m from the Lottery‚ and R2m from an International Paralympic Committee sponsor. But he added they expected to spend R47.4m.

High and dry: Icelanders inconsolable without pools

Birdsong now fills the air around Iceland’s outdoor swimming pools, closed for weeks because of Covid-19, to the dismay of locals. The British have pubs, the French cafes and the Finns saunas. Icelanders flock to pools to swim laps or just hang out in hot tubs. Even on the coldest winter days, they love to take a dip. The country’s 134 municipal swimming pools and other hot pools are as much a place to socialise as to exercise. Iceland has one pool for every 2,700 inhabitants, one of the highest rates in the world, and swimming is deeply rooted in Iceland the country’s lifestyle. – AFP

China warns protesters against ‘stirring up trouble’

China warned Hong Kong protesters on Wednesday that it would not tolerate them “stirring up trouble again”. The territory was rocked by months of pro-democracy demonstrations last year, triggered by opposition to a bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. Mass arrests and a ban on large gatherings due to coronavirus have stifled the protest movement, but small demonstrations have been held recently as contagion fears ease. “We noticed that the black violent forces slowed down a little when faced with the Hong Kong epidemic, but now they are stirring up trouble again,” China’s top body overseeing Hong Kong said. “The central government will not sit idly by and watch these insane and wantonly destructive forces.” – AFP