Author: Grocott's Mail Contributors

The year 2020 will always be associated with a previously little-known Coronavirus known as COVID-19. Few economists or analysts could ever have predicted that this flu-like virus, first identified in China, would spread across the world resulting in a global pandemic. The rapid spread of this virus was the spark that triggered stock markets across the globe to crash. A stock market crash or setback can be defined as a sudden dramatic decline in prices of shares across a broad cross-section of a stock market, resulting in a significant loss of wealth. Setbacks are driven by panic as much as…

This information about Covid-19 relief funding was compiled by CovidComms SA ( http://covidcomms.org.za/ )  [pdf-embedder url=”https://www.grocotts.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200407_sa_covid-19_relief_schemes_summaries__-__read-only.pdf”]

Rhodes University has turned to its alumni, business and members of the public for help to mobilise resources to ensure successful completion of the 2020 academic year. With the forced closure of the campus and cessation of all contact teaching and learning, a shortage of online learning facilities and connectivity has emerged as a serious threat for many of the university students and some of its teaching staff. “One of our most serious short-term challenge is accessing laptops for students who do not have these and to respond to their other connectivity requirements. It is a huge challenge and one…

To celebrate the birth month of the late Uyinene, the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation (UMF) has established an online psychological support service that uses a qualified psychologist, which will run every day from 9am until 4pm for the remainder of April. “We aim to continue raising awareness about Gender Based Violence (GBV) even during the lockdown period, as some people are more vulnerable now, stuck in their homes with perpetrators of GBV,” said Uyinene’s mother, Nomangwane Mrwetyana. “We will be focusing on the Foundation’s three key pillars of Prevention, Support and Leadership Development. As we celebrate Uyinene’s birth month, we wish to…

By JULIAN JACOBS The sound of children playing and laughing as they drank water from the communal water tanks installed over the past two weeks greeted Makana Mayor Mzukisi Mpahlwa and councillors Luyanda Sakata and Ramie Xonxa when they inspected the tanks this week. The councillors on Tuesday, 14 April 2020 visited several areas across Makhanda where some of the 144 water tanks were installed. The tanks were donated by the national department of Water and Sanitation as part of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to assist communities that do not have water. “The reason the government brings water to…

Step 1. Heading – putting your mask on Wash your hands carefully before putting on the mask either with soap and water for 20 seconds or cleanse carefully with hand sanitiser, rubbing the sanitiser all over your hands for at least 10 seconds. Take a clean mask and place over your nose and mouth, securing the loops over your ears. If the mask has strings or ties, fasten these securely behind your head. Step 2. Make sure that the mask fits well. The mask should first comfortably and you should be able to breathe easily. The mask should not be loose and…

Grant money deposited into your account is safe and will not be taken back if not used. There is no need to rush to withdraw cash on the first day SASSA deposits it into your account. Because of problems experienced during the last payment cycle during the National Lockdown, SASSA has changed the payment dates for social grants. As from May 2020, Disability and Older Persons Grants will be paid from the 4th day of the month. All other grants will be paid from the 6th of every month. The grant payment for April was brought forward to the 30 March…

These are extraordinary times that warrant unprecedented measures. Most of us are frightened about becoming ill and dying, losing loved ones, losing income, losing the opportunity to complete our studies, and being separated from people that we care about for an extended period of time. Many are worried about whether or not they will be able to access course material online, or keep up with the demands without good internet access. Others are frightened that they may be deprived of life-saving medication or food. All these fears are perfectly understandable. It is important to remember that anxiety is a physiological…

By ROGER ROWSWELL This is a continuation of the series; “A Comparison of 2020 and 2019 Rainfall” started early in March 2020 showing January and February rainfalls. In March 2020 we received less than we did in 2019 and slightly above the LTA (long term average) and LT Med (long term median). The March LTA is 76.0mm and LT Med 72.8mm (35 years). I am inclined not to refer to the arithmetic figures for the LTA and LT Med for these determinates but prefer to use the ranges they fall in; i.e. each months (January to December) rainfall has been…

Sid and Marion (nee de la Mare) of Makhanda (Grahamstown) were married in the Baptist Church in Grahamstown on Saturday 4 April 1970. Sid was previously sports writer, deputy editor and editor of Grocott’s Mail, and was involved with the newspaper on a part-time and fulltime basis for 25 years. He is currently a columnist for Talk of the Town newspaper in Port Alfred. Sadly, Sid and Marion were not be able to celebrate their Golden wedding anniversary with friends due to the coronavirus lockdown. Not even their son Stephen, Grocott’s Mail’s former Sports Editor and daughter-in-law Terri-Lynn were able…