Tuesday, 29 September - DAILY NEWS SUMMARY
Pretoria News (www.pretorianews.co.za) Page 1 – GANGSTERS STRIKE AT HOSTEL
Page 1 – ‘China lauds SA ties as it marks its National Day
The Star (www.iol.co.za)
Page 1 – ANC leader nabbed for rape
Page 2 – Rising concerns over second wave
Business Day (www.businesslive.co.za) Page 1 – Anxiety over SAA shows in bond yields Page 2 – EU woes squeeze platinum demand
Citizen (www.citizen.co.za) Page 2 – KEEPING AN EYE Page 3 – Timeshare still in a mess
Page 5 – Doctor pushed to breaking point
GANGSTERS STRIKE AT HOSTEL
DA blames gruesome hit on its activist Daniel Sello on Mamelodi group ‘Boko Haram’
Pretoria News
29 Sep 2020
JAMES MAHLOKWANE [email protected]
THE DA has blamed gangsters known as Boko Haram for the gruesome death of its activist Daniel Sello, 51, who was shot five times in his bed at Mamelodi Hostel on Saturday night.
Former Tshwane MMC Darryl Moss and members of the Mamelodi Hostel Residents
Committee said Sello was killed for standing up to gangsters who used force and intimidation to score business deals in the township.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said the police were hunting a group of unknown men for fatally shooting Sello and another man.
“The suspects were allegedly led to Sello. On arrival, they started firing shots that killed him on the spot, while another male victim was injured and rushed to hospital for medical
attention.
“The motive behind the shooting is yet to be determined, but the police are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder,” said Peters.
Sello was the DA chairperson in Ward 38 and head of the Mamelodi Hostel Residents Committee.
It is claimed that he clashed with gang members who carried firearms and disturbed workers at some projects.
He previously opened a case against them.
His hostel room-mates said they were still traumatised by what had happened.
They said the shooters arrived at their hostel at about 9pm while they were still cooking and asked them to point out which one was Sello.
“Three men entered our hostel and two waited outside. Our door was still open as I was preparing to go out for a smoke.
“They started beating us and asking which one was Sello.
“Sello was already in bed and seemingly tired. When they got into the room with our beds, they walked closer to his bed and called his name and made sure he answered to confirm it was indeed him.
“He answered, and they said ‘wake up quickly; you’re wasting time’. When he did, they fired a shot under his belly, two at his chest and two at his head.
“There was no talk or negotiation; these men were just there to shoot and kill him.
“One of the room-mates who started running was also shot. We have been traumatised by the incident and we struggle to fall asleep in this hostel,” said a room-mate.
According to the DA, Sello had been receiving death threats since he was appointed by the government to head the relocation of hostel dwellers to temporary structures for compliance with Covid-19 regulations.
The DA meanwhile appealed to Police Minister Bheki Cele to institute an urgent
investigation into the notorious Boko Haram gang that was allegedly terrorising residents at the Mamelodi Hostels.
The hostel’s committee members said they were now scared because they knew Sello was killed for being vocal in fighting for the inclusion of residents in a project to refurbish the hostel.
“We feel like the police could have at least done something because he opened a case earlier on. But they said there was no evidence of threats. Look now, the evidence is his dead body.
“We don’t feel safe because people who use force to represent their business interests could kill us and maybe there is a list with our names,” said a committee member.
Moss said the DA would be involving the Independent Police Investigative Directorate to investigate why there was no action from the police.
He said: “The problem of gangsterism in business is a wide problem in Mamelodi and the hostels in particular. Gangsters invaded the hostels some time ago and kicked some people out of the hostels but nothing was done about that.
“They have never had respect for business processes and they just want to enter by force and be given work without even applying for a tender.
“I think the last nail in the coffin was when the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation awarded a tender for the building of temporary shelters in the hostels.”
The dead man’s brother, Ronny Sello, said the whole ordeal was very painful to the family.
He said they were preparing to bury him at Ga-Mashabela, Limpopo, in the days to come.
“My brother and I were supposed to meet this coming weekend to go and pay lobola on behalf of our youngest brother who wants to get married. I have not eaten since my brother was killed,” he said.
China lauds SA ties as it marks its National Day
Pretoria News
29 Sep 2020
VAL BOJE
AMBASSADOR Chen Xiaodong
THE EMBASSY of the People’s Republic of China in South Africa hosted its 71st National Day with a virtual reception yesterday, including an address by the new ambassador-
designate in Pretoria, Chen Xiaodong.
Chen spoke of the profound friendship between South Africa and China, and paid tribute to President Cyril Ramaphosa for decisive leadership shown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a former assistant minister of foreign affairs, Chen said he had undertaken many trips to South Africa and other African countries, but his arrival as the sixth ambassador since formal ties were established, came at a time when the world was changing in profound ways.
Over the past 22 years, he said, China-South Africa relations had made great leaps to comprehensive strategic partnerships and co-operation would be strengthened using frameworks such as the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation.
Two-way investment between the two countries had increased, as had cultural and people-to- people exchanges, with The Year of China and The Year of South Africa hosted in one another’s countries.
Outlining bilateral trade and co-operation, Chen said there were opportunities for China, as an emerging market leader with a population of 1.4 billion, to provide opportunities for the post-pan- demic economic recovery in South Africa and on the continent, including through the Belt and Road Initiative.
The year also marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN and President Xi had proposed the UN General Assembly stand firm for fairness and justice, and pledged China’s support for multilateralism, solidarity, co-operation and unity of purpose.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, speaking on behalf of the SA government, reflected on the development of SA-China relations since 1998, and the need to work together in the post-pandemic era. A new 10-year strategic programme, with structured mechanisms, would allow for collaboration in science and technology, higher education, skills transfer, health, the digital economy and communications, he said. The programme also featured Chinese embassy staff doing the Jerusalema dance, tai chi, dance, calligraphy and cooking demonstrations.
ANC leader nabbed for rape
Mpumalanga ANC suspends man following allegations that he raped his 8-year-old twin daughters multiple times
The Star Early Edition
29 Sep 2020
BONGANI NKOSI [email protected] *Not his real name to protect the identities of his daughters
THE MPUMALANGA ANC leader arrested for the alleged repeated rapes of his 8-year-old twin daughters is believed to have sexually violated the children multiple times in their home.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the province Monica Nyuswa told The Star yesterday that the man, 48, and his stepson, 26, faced several counts of rape.
“They will appear in court for multiple counts of rape. They are due to make a formal bail application on October 1,” Nyuswa said.
“One of the twins told a teacher in her school about the incidents. She indicated that the same thing was also happening to her sister.
“The teacher then alerted the police and the cases were opened. The children cannot tell how many times they were violated because they are young, but the two have been charged with multiple counts of rape,” Nyuswa added. on the grounds that the accused would make contact with the children.
The pair made a brief appearance at a magistrate’s court yesterday morning, just hours after their arrests. Last night was their first night in custody over the rape charges.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi confirmed that police arrested the pair at their home.
“The allegations are that his stepson also raped the children, hence he was also arrested along with the politician,”
The 48-year-old is a high-ranking ANC member in Mpumalanga. He was MEC from 2014 to 2019.
He served in the party’s provincial executive committee at the time of his alleged predatory acts.
The politician, who cannot be named to protect the identities of his children, represented the ANC in the National Assembly between 2004 and 2014 and at one stage was chairperson of the communications portfolio committee.
The ANC in Mpumalanga expressed
Ntshalintshali, the acting provincial secretary, said the party learned with “serious shock and anger” that he allegedly raped his children.
Ntshalintshali revealed that the man has been suspended from the ANC.
“(He) has been summarily suspended as a member of the ANC and PEC until the case is concluded by the competent courts of the land consistent with the resolutions of the most recent National Executive Committee meeting of the ANC and the 54th National Conference, which resolved that all members charged for corruption and other serious crimes should step aside from all activities associated with the ANC,” she said.
The DA applauded the ANC for suspending the man.
“The DA also calls on the ANC not to use its power to protect (him) from law enforcement agencies,” the DA’s Jane Sithole said.
“We don’t want to hear these charges are ‘politically motivated’. They must let the law take its course, and if *Zebulon is found guilty, he must be imprisoned like all offenders.
“We cannot have a former MP and MEC who raped his own children while South Africa is fighting the scourge of gender-based violence.
“He should be punished harshly if found guilty. Rapists must be removed from society as a matter of urgency,” Sithole said.
Rising concerns over second wave
Risk increased after move to lockdown alert level 1, and many people returning to normal daily activities
The Star Early Edition
29 Sep 2020
CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA [email protected] | @Chulu_M
AS SOUTH Africa moves into the second week of lockdown alert level 1, concerns of a second wave of infection have arisen as people return to their normal daily activities.
As of Sunday evening, 1 268 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in just 24 hours, bringing the number of coronavirus cases to 670 766, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize.
Another 22 people died, bringing the number of Covid-related deaths to 16 398, with seven of the deaths reported in the Eastern Cape, five from
KwaZulu-Natal, two from Gauteng, five from the North West and three from the Western Cape.
“We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health-care workers who treated the deceased patients,” the minister said.
The number of recoveries have increased and now stand at 603 721. That translates to a recovery rate of 90%, Mkhize said.
“The cumulative number of tests conducted to date is 4 143 466, with 15 028 new tests conducted since the last report,” he added.
Although South Africa has moved into the second week of lockdown level 1, there are concerns that a second wave of infections will come as people return to their daily activities.
Health Department spokesperson Popo Maja said yesterday that the country could prevent the second wave if South Africans adhered to the mandated preventive measures.
“We have moved to level 1 but have not eased our alerts about the importance of preventive measures. Physical distance and cleaning of hands have proved to be effective in other countries that have gone through the pandemic,” he said.
SA Medical Association chairperson
Dr Angelique Coetzee said looking at the trend of second waves in other countries, a second wave was expected.
“If you look at the statistics in other countries we do expect a second wave although we don’t think it will be as high as the first wave,” she said.
Coetzee said if physical distancing, hand washing and air flow in buildings were adequate, the chances of people contracting Covid-19 at the workplace, for example, were not very high.
“However, the lockdown cannot be the only measurement to get people to adhere to protocols. It is now up to the people of the country, and whether they adhere to these protocols or they are just going through it into the wind and get infected, and then we’ll definitely have a second wave,” she said.
Meanwhile, Gauteng remains the province with the highest number of lives lost to Covid-19 with 4 203 reported deaths, but is closely followed by the Western Cape at 4 163, while the Eastern Cape’s death toll is at 3 110.
KwaZulu-Natal has recorded 2 626 Covid-19 deaths, the Free State has 838, Mpumalanga recorded 520 and North West stands at 255. The Northern Cape has so far recorded the lowest number of Covid-19 fatalities at 197.
Anxiety over SAA shows in bond yields
Business Day
29 Sep 2020
Odwa Mjo
Investors ’ unease about SA’s ability to contain its debt has pushed long-term borrowing costs to a record high relative to shorter-dated debt, raising concern about the sustainability of government borrowing.
The difference in yield, or spread, between the three- and 10-year government bonds widened to 495 basis points (bps) on Monday, the widest on record and up from just 100bps at the start of 2020, according to data from Bloomberg. This comes at a time when Covid-19 and its economic shock have left the government facing a budget deficit of more than 15% for the current fiscal year.
Higher bond yields mean more of the money the government collects through tax goes to paying interest on debt, taking up resources that should be used on education, health and policing. When he presented his supplementary budget in June, finance minister Tito
Mboweni said 21c of every rand the government collects goes to paying interest on past debt.
Investors usually expect to be paid a higher yield to lend for a longer period to compensate for the possibility that their coupon payments, which are fixed, will be eroded by inflation over time, also reflecting the higher risk of not being paid. SA’s yield premium is big by emergingmarket standards, with India and Brazil having spreads of 107bps and 310bps, respectively.
With SA’s finances already looking perilous due to Covid-19, investors are concerned about where the government will find R10.5bn to rescue SAA, which Mboweni has previously said should be closed down, said Ashburton Investments head of fixed income Albert Botha.
The amount is not significant compared to the debt of Eskom or the annual wage bill, but it is emblematic of a governing party that continues to show severe intransigence as to what needs to change in SA and what policies must be adopted,” he said.
“It is also a loss for the minister of finance and the Treasury that were clear in their opposition to the move.”
Bonds are seen as a crucial indicator of investor perceptions towards the sustainability of a country ’ s finances. Yields, which move inversely to prices, adjust to reflect investor confidence.
That lack of confidence saw SA’s 10-year yield jump to 9.5% on Monday, compared with 6.05% in India and Brazil’s 7.35%, even as the Reserve Bank has cut interest rates by a combined 300bps in 2020.
SA’s yield curve is “exceptionally steep”, which reflects credit risk associated with high public borrowing needs”, Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago said earlier this month as policymakers kept the repo rate on hold.
Foreign holdings of SA bonds have dropped to 29.9%, the lowest in about eight years, and JSE data shows that they have sold a net R69bn so far in 2020.
“Foreigners are cautious on SA because of its spiralling debt,” said Rand Merchant Bank fixedincome analyst Michelle Wohlberg. “There does not seem to be any effort in reducing the debt, as can be seen by [ the country] providing SAA with more fiscal stimulus.”
The financial difficulties of bankrupt state-owned airline SAA have spilt over to its technical arm, triggering a wage dispute with its workers after it announced a 25% salary cut for September.
About 200 employees of SAA Technical (SAAT) marched on the company’s head office on Monday after learning that a decision had been taken to cut wages.
Ameeting between management and workers was ongoing on Monday afternoon.
SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said SAAT had itself experienced financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 lockdown because airlines globally were not flying and were therefore in no need of maintenance services.
Tlali said SAA’s financial difficulties — it is in business rescue and awaiting a R10.5bn bailout from the state — meant it had not been able to pay SAAT for services rendered.
He said the technical unit had only received notice on September 23 from SAA that it could not meet its obligations. The next day SAAT’s 2,300 employees were informed of the wage cut.
SAAT has decided to take action not only against SAA and low-cost carrier Mango but also other airlines that owe it money. Non-payment by Mango has apparently led to the
withdrawal by SAAT of its maintenance services, which threatened Mango with the grounding of its aircraft.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA came out in support of the SAAT workers’
action. It said the 25% cut was “in violation of a previous arrangement which was in place, where SAAT management would top up workers’ salaries by 50%”.
This would be a top-up of the Temporary Employer/ Employee Relief Scheme payments from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Mango on Monday said it would continue to operate via third-party aeroplane lease arrangements while negotiating with SAAT.
The airline said it remained hopeful “that a win-win solution between itself and SAAT would be found in due course”.
As part of contingency [plans], Mango will continue operating via third-party aircraft lease arrangements, including operating [its] own aircraft to fly our passengers until further notice,” it said.
Mango has not disclosed the nature of the dispute with SAAT but broadcaster eNCA reported that it related to the alleged nonpayment by SAA to SAAT which apparently wants to
withdraw its support to Mango.
The dispute triggered reports that the entire Mango fleet would be grounded as from midnight on Saturday, but Mango reassured passengers that flights would continue.
According to civil aviation regulations, all aircraft have to be checked before take-off and if there is not a maintenance organisation on hand to do this, the airline has to ground itself for safety reasons.
EU woes squeeze platinum demand
• Lower demand expected for three metals
Business Day
29 Sep 2020
Allan Seccombe [email protected]
SA’s platinum group metals producers face a renewed and serious threat to demand from increased Covid-19 infections in Europe, a big market for the metals. The three main metals that vehicle makers use come mainly from mining companies in SA, but there is a
fundamental mismatch in terms of a ramp-up in production of the metals and a worsening outlook for European car sales, which would mean lower demand for the metals. /
SA’s platinum group metals (PGMs) producers face a renewed and serious threat to demand from increased Covid19 infections in Europe, a big market for the metals.
The three main metals automakers use — platinum, palladium and rhodium — come mainly from mining companies in SA, the world’s single-largest source of PGMs, with Russia a most important source of palladium. Rhodium is largely an SA mineral.
The metals are used in antipollution devices in diesel and petrol engines, with platinum used in the former and palladium in the latter. Both use rhodium in small quantities.
There is a fundamental mismatch in terms of SA PGM production ramping back to
prelockdown levels against a worsening outlook for European car sales, which would mean reduced demand for the metals.
The bad news for PGM miners is the 38% fall in EU car sales in the first half of the year when the Covid-19 pandemic swept the globe, forcing the closure of borders and restrictions on economic and social activities.
The EU accounts for about 1.4-million ounces or half of the global consumption of platinum for autocatalysts and nearly a quarter of palladium (2.1-million ounces) to make these devices.
Any reduction in demand will lower prices, feeding into reduced revenues. EU automakers closed more than 220 sites across the 27-member country bloc for an average of 30 working days during the period, with a consequent reduction of 2.4-million vehicles, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said in July.
EU car sales are expected to fall by a “record-breaking ” 25% for 2020, equating to more than 3-million vehicles, the association warned.
The reduction in demand and an expected 23% fall in West European car production for the year will reduce platinum demand by 330,000oz, palladium by 440,000oz and rhodium by 70,000oz, according to German technology and PGM refining company Heraeus.
“Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly in the five largest European car markets, with France and Spain leading the way.
“In response, governments have started to reintroduce restrictions on the public and
businesses. So far, the new measures are not as tough as during the first wave, but that could change,” Heraeus said on Monday. Full lockdowns remain unlikely, but more restrictions could seriously affect the already fragile economy and car sales.”
Included in the Heraeus European car sales projections is the UK, which is excluded from EU data.
Spain, with a 51% fall in firsthalf car demand, Italy, France and Germany are the four big countries leading the decline in EU car purchases, the association noted.
The EU is the largest buyer of platinum for diesel autocatalysts. Slightly fewer than a third of cars sold in the EU are diesel and 59% are petrol.
The EU in 2019 accounted for a quarter, or 19-million, of the world ’ s global passenger vehicle production, a close second behind China’s 21-million.
Heraeus flagged a further reduction of 95,000oz of platinum consumption, 190,000oz of palladium and 35,000oz of rhodium if light vehicle output in Europe fell further to match a decline in sales.
“This would narrow the rhodium market deficit and bring it close to balance. It would push the palladium market into surplus. The large platinum market surplus [excluding investment]
would grow even larger,” Heraeus said.
Rhodium prices shot to record highs above $14,500/oz recently, roughly three times what it was worth a year earlier. Along with palladium, it is now the biggest earner for SA PGM miners, with platinum relegated to a distant third as prices remain soft.
“The risk for the rhodium and palladium prices appears to be to the downside,” Heraeus said, adding it saw a support level of about $800/oz for platinum because of the large surplus for the metal.
“The rhodium price dipped to $14,000/oz last week. Metal availability is improving with production climbing in SA, as the recovery from mine lockdowns continues and processing problems are overcome.
Next year, the rhodium market deficit is expected to widen as auto sales recover further, so this may be only a temporary dip,” Heraeus said.
FULL LOCKDOWNS REMAIN UNLIKELY, BUT MORE RESTRICTIONS COULD ...
AFFECT THE FRAGILE ECONOMY AND CAR SALES 25% that EU car sales are expected to decline in 2020, equating to more than 3-million vehicles 38% fall in EU car sales in the first half of the year
KEEPING AN EYE
The Citizen (Gauteng)
29 Sep 2020
Picture: EPA-EFE
South Korean marines patrol a beach of the island of Yeonpyeong yesterday amid tensions over North Korea’s killing of a South Korean official in its waters last week.
Timeshare still in a mess
CONSUMER COMMISSION: INDUSTRY INVESTIGATIVE REPORT LOST AFTER SYSTEM HACKED
The Citizen (Gauteng)
29 Sep 2020
Ina Opperman – [email protected]
A report on the industry by the National Consumer Commission was ‘lost’ after its website was hacked, but the same old problems exist in a sector beset by complaints from those who have fallen victim to unscrupulous practices.
Many of the old abuses – raised by consumers time and again – are still happening.
It’s been two years since the National Consumer Commission (NCC) issued a report on its investigation into the controversial and often dodgy timeshare industry – but nothing has happened and people are still getting scammed and browbeaten with high-pressure selling techniques.
And the report itself is now missing because, according to the NCC, it was “lost” when the commission’s website was hacked.
None of the short-, mediumor long-term recommendations in the report – which will be
“replaced soon”, according to NCC spokesperson Pheto Ndaba – have been implemented, although during the course of the investigations and hearings in 2017-2018, 997 out of 1 200 complaints dealt with were resolved in favour of consumers, who had their timeshare
contracts cancelled.
However, in the absence of legislation to control the sector being written and placed before parliament, many of the old abuses are still happening, including:
Consumers unable to cancel contracts;
Forfeiture of points;
Unavailability of accommodation;
Unacceptable alternative accommodation; and Misrepresentations during sales presentations.
Among recommendations in the report were amendments to the Property Time-Sharing Control Act, new regulations for the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the setting up of a new regulator to enforce compliance with existing and future legislation.
There should be a clear and concise statement of the value of points and how it was
calculated, reflecting the exact number of points required for a booking, that clubs provide an annual valuation certificate for their points, consumers get notified when points expire, reduced levies for no bookings and carryover of points when no accommodation is available.
A platform must be created for cashing in, exchanging and reselling of points.
As far as combating the “cowboy” behaviour of timeshare organisations, the report said the practice of luring consumers with
Industry must develop a code of conduct for the sector regulating the conduct of sales people and the clubs they represent.
freebies such as holiday vouchers, cars and free flights must stop.
Customers must not be lured to marketing events with scratch cards or stories that they have won holidays or other prizes, and they must not be required to bring their credit cards to marketing presentations.
Consumers must not be pressured to sign contracts and there must be compulsory training for timeshare personnel.
The industry must, as an interim measure, develop a code of conduct for the industry regulating the conduct of sales people and the clubs they represent. The practice of selling timeshare as an investment must stop.
All timeshare contracts must be changed to fixed-term contracts, subject to renewal, and that consumers automatically get the rights afforded to them by section 14 of the CPA.
Consumers must first have time to consider, digest and assimilate information before signing.
Consumers must get a copy of the contract on the day of signing and the cooling-off period must only start when the last person signs and it is delivered to the consumer.
Doctor pushed to breaking point
KWAZULU-NATAL: WORKING CONDITIONS AND INJURY, ILLNESSES AFFECT MENTAL HEALTH
The Citizen (Gauteng)
29 Sep 2020
Kim Harrisberg
‘I’m tired of almost dying all the time,’ she says from psychiatric hospital.
Zolelwa Sifumba described the daily injection she got to treat tuberculosis as feeling like hot lava being pumped slowly into her body, leaving the young doctor with crippling joint pain and incessant nausea.
She thought her 18-month fight against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis was a career low- point until – five years on – she fell ill with Covid-19 and acute anxiety while working on the pandemic frontlines with scant protective equipment and support.
“I’m tired of almost dying all the time,” said Sifumba, 29, who blogs and campaigns on doctors’ health issues, speaking from the Durban psychiatric hospital where she checked herself in for treatment after reaching breaking point at work.
After months of not sleeping, sudden bursts of tears, loss of appetite and continuous waves of panic, Sifumba decided that to be a good doctor she had to prioritise her mental health. She is currently on leave for a month.
“If you were to send a fireman into a fire half-protected, everyone would defend him. But everywhere doctors go they have to breathe, so why are we not protecting them?” said Sifumba, a junior doctor at a rural hospital in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sifumba, who has blogged about overcoming tuberculosis for Doctors Without Borders and is an ambassador for The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, is now working on a mentoring programme to help doctors through difficult times.
Her personal experience of the mental health impact of working in high-stress, short-staffed hospitals has made her determined to raise awareness about the toll that fighting health crises takes on doctors.
Sifumba’s story is a global one. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported recently that health workers account for one in seven Covid-19 cases on average, rising to one in three in some countries.
The lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for SA doctors has made headlines during the pandemic, but Sifumba said it was nothing new, with doctors expected to fight off myriad risks with minimal support on a daily basis.
“How do you work in a system that doesn’t care about you? I want to help build a system that works differently, that looks after healthcare workers instead of breaking them,” Sifumba said.
While she fears speaking out could hurt her job prospects, Sifumba said Covid-19 made it an opportune moment to shine a spotlight on working conditions that would be tolerated in few other professional fields.
In January this year, exhausted after a sleepless 30-hour shift, Sifumba decided she needed a hug from her grandmother.
But soon after setting off for the twoand-a-half hour drive, she fell asleep at the wheel and her car swerved off the road.
“I walked out alive, but live with a really bad back injury now,” Sifumba said, pointing to the excessive working hours demanded from doctors, especially now as they battle a pandemic.
SA has the highest number of Covid-19 cases on the continent with about 663 000 infections, according to the African Centre for Disease Control and Protection.
The pandemic has piled pressure on a health system already dealing with HIV/ Aids and tuberculosis, with the latter claiming an estimated 78 000 lives every year in the country, according to the WHO Global TB report.
Sifumba said, however, that the coronavirus crisis could accelerate long-overdue changes that prioritise healthcare workers; changes that might have helped her avoid serious illness.
Despite the physical and mental health problems she has faced, Sifumba said her illnesses have made her a better doctor.
