OCEAN VIEW SCHOOLS PICKET OVER COVID-19 SAFETY CONCERNS

Ocean View educators, learners, and residents held a peaceful protest on Tuesday to raise awareness about teachers and children in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Standing at the entrance of the suburb, Marine Primary School, Kleinberg Primary School, and Ocean View High School are calling on the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to refrain from sending the other grades to schools. Grade 7 and matriculants returned to school on 1 June 2020 after being at home for about 2 months due to the coronavirus.

These fore mentioned schools say there is an estimate of 30 to 50 students per class and are wanting to half these numbers, as well as having one main teacher with a teacher’s aid.

Out of the close to 1 500 schools in the Western Cape, WCED said less than 0.1% of learners in grade 7 & 12 as well as Schools of Skills year 4 have tested positive for the coronavirus. Staff members at schools who tested positive for COVID-19 account for 1.5%

A resident of Ocean View, Jasmine Mazwi, says teachers are being overworked with the current school COVID-19 protocols in place.

‘’The current state that we are facing, mental health is just as important as health itself. This will burn out many teachers and have students traumatised due to fears of their lives.’’

The message from these schools: ‘’Close schools and save lives!’’

https://soundcloud.com/bush-radio1/ocean-view-schools-picket-over-covid-19-safety-concerns

Done By: Mitchum George

COSAS threatens to close schools

The Congress of SA Students, COSAS, says it will be “shutting down all schools” from Monday.

It said in a statement that they are not giving anyone an option but, ‘’are taking a radical approach’’, and ‘’saving the lives of innocent scholars by hook or crook.”

Cosas said it would mobilise at a school in Cape Town where it believed a Covid-19 case had been reported. It said that that they will move to any other school that is operating. COSAS’ Buntu Joseph is meanwhile calling on the Education Department to go back to the drawing board, also wanting learners to be tested and not screened.

Done By: Mitchum George

South African author, Elsa Joubert, dies at 97

Legendary South African author Elsa Joubert has died.

According to Netwerk24, the 97-year-old writer died on Sunday in Cape Town, due to Covid-19 related causes. Elsa's son, Nico Steytler, confirmed that his mother died in Medi-clinic Cape Town, due to the virus.

Elsa's well-known book, Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena, which told the story of the complex relationship between women of different races living under the Apartheid era. The book was translated into thirteen languages and most recently turned into an award-winning film directed by Christian Olwagen and starring Clementine Mosimane.

Litnet reports that Elsa was married to the late journalist and writer, Klaas Steytler. She leaves behind two daughters, Elsabé and Henriëtte, and a son Nico.

On 3 June 2020, the Afrikaans journalist, poet, and writer Jeanne Goosen also died. She was 81 years old. It is believed that Goosen died at her home in Melkbosstrand on Tuesday after slipping into a coma.

Goosen published her first volume of poetry 'n Uil vlieg weg in 1971. It was her award-winning book, Ons is nie almal so nie, which was published in 1990 that made her a household name.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

A Cape Town man arrested following a business robbery

Members of the Maitland Flying Squad were patrolling on their deployment routes along the N2 at around 17:45 the evening on Thursday, 11 June 2020, when they monitored a radio broadcast of a business robbery.

The suspect, a 38-year-old male, was at large in the area and members were requested by a Woodstock SAPS sector complaint vehicle to urgently assist. Police spokesperson, Mihlali Majikela, said that they responded swiftly and focused on the Lower Main Road where the suspect had disappeared into a nearby residential area. Following a vigorous search, members found him hiding in an outside toilet of a private residential property.

He was subsequently arrested and a 9mm Norinco firearm, several rounds of ammunition and a Samsung cellular phone were discovered in his possession.

The suspect faces charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and possession of presumed stolen property.

He is expected to appear in court on Monday, 15 June 2020.

Done By: Mitchum George

Western Cape’s Community Safety MEC welcomes arrests of suspected LGBTQIA+ murder

The Western Cape’s MEC of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, has welcomed the five arrests made by SAPS of suspects for the murder of 16-year-old Liyabona Mabishi, who was stabbed 13 times in Nkanini in Khayelitsha on Human Rights Day 2020.

At the time of the murder, it was suspected that the attack might be a hate crime related to Mabishi’s sexuality. During the attack, her friend had tried to intervene and was also stabbed. Mabishi died on route to the hospital.

According to Fritz, SAPS revealed that Mabishi was stabbed whilst walking with a group. It is suspected that her group bumped into another group and a quarrel started, resulting in her attack. Fritz added that the murder weapons have been retrieved. MEC Fritz said that he was informed by police that while they currently do not have evidence of a hate-crime, that 5 people have been arrested for her murder and have appeared in the Khayelitsha Court.

The next appearance is on the 6th of July for a bail application. The accused are currently in custody. Fritz said that the State will oppose their bail application.

 Done By: Mitchum George

Two arrested for possession of abalone

Paarl police arrested two suspects for the possession of abalone worth an estimated street value of R4.1 million. Police spokesperson, Captain F.C van Wyk said that at about 12:45 on Tuesday, members of Paarl SAPS spotted a silver grey Land Rover at St. Francis Street in Northern Paarl. Van Wyk added that the vehicle looked suspicious and the members decided to observe it. Upon approaching the vehicle the two occupants fled the scene. An undisclosed amount of abalone was found in the vehicle. The two suspects pursued on foot by SAPS members and was apprehended.

Van Wyk said that further investigation led them to a residence in the Northern Paarl area which was used as a processing factory where several other equipment were found. The two suspects aged 26 and 29 will appear in the Paarl Magistrates court once charged.

Done By: Mitchum George