JULY 2, 2021 012-842-0300

Local teachers get jabs as infections rise in province

The drive to vaccinate more than 125 934 workers in the education sector in Gauteng between June 23 and July 8 kicked off in Pretoria this week. This as teachers made their way to various vaccination sites to get their jabs. MEC Panyaza Lesufi said while vaccination was voluntary, the health department highly recommended that all those in the sector get vaccinated. “It is very important that we protect our educators,” said Lesufi . In the photo is professional nurse Christina Masemene vaccinating Mahlwareng primary school teacher Dikeledi Makhafola at the Mabopane indoor centre in the north of Pretoria. Photo: Ron Sibiya Lewe met simptome ná virus hoor hoe vol die hospitale in die alle gevalle ernstig nie”. Odette Venter streek is. “Ons prioritiseer dus gevalle “Ons is baie voorbereid, maar “Meestal vertel hul reguit vir ons waar mense byvoorbeeld nie kan die groot aantal mense wat met hul het geen beddens beskikbaar asemhaal nie, tot gevalle waar Covid-19 besmet is, is eenvoudig nie. Wanneer ons by ’n hospitaal iemand net hoofpyn en koors het.” oorweldigend.” kom kan ons maklik tot drie ure Hospitale is egter vol, vertel hy. Dit is volgens Richard Friedland, lank wag vir ’n bed om beskikbaar “Ons wag vyf of ses uur vir ’n uitvoerende hoof van Netcare, te raak by privaathospitale. beskikbare bed vir die pasiënt sodra verlede week. “By staatshospitale wag ons by hospitale aankom – beide “Ons het verwag dat die getalle ons ongeveer ’n halfuur. Die privaat- en openbare hospitale.” vir ’n langer periode in die staatshospitale het tans meer Volgens hom is personeellede provinsie laer sou wees, maar ons kapasiteit as die privaathospitale in uitgeput. het ’n geweldige, onvoorsiene die stad.” “Ons het selfs administratiewe Volgens Shawn Herbst, personeel wat nou uithelp.” oplewing in Gauteng.” The Steve Biko academic hospital. Photo: Ron Sibiya In ’n onderhoud met Bruce woordvoerder van Netcare 911, is Friedland sê dat die getalle is daar is nie genoeg ambulanse om op al meer is as dié van 8 Januarie Whitfi eld van The Money Show, op Donderdag. 1 800 beddens vir kritieke sorg het Friedland gesê Gauteng is die al die Covid gevalle te reageer nie. vanjaar, wat die hoogtepunt van die “Gelukkig,” voeg hy by, “is nie sogenaamde tweede golf was. Dit bring die totale aantal beskikbaar in die provinsie, met ’n mees bevolkte en digste bevolkte laboratoriumbevestigde gevalle op dringende vraag na meer. provinsie in die land. Volgens die Nasionale Instituut vir Oordraagbare Siektes (NICD), 1 877 143 te staan. Daar is egter slegs ’n beperkte Volgens Ambu-link Hierdie toename verteenwoordig hoeveelheid hulpbronne en woordvoerder, Xander ’n afdeling van die National Health Laboratory Service, is daar ’n positiewe koers van 24,5%. personeellede om hierdie dienste te Loubser, bel hul ’n Verdere 148 sterftes wat lewer, het Friedland gesê. daagliks om te 16 078 nuwe gevalle in die 28 Junie 29 Junie land geïdentifi seer net met Covid-19 verband hou, is Sandile Sihlaba, woordvoerder aangemeld, wat die totale sterftes van Lancet Laboratoriums, het op 59 406 te staan bring. gesê hy wil beklemtoon dat die 2275 2610 Gauteng het die meerderheid laboratoriums die verhoging van die 27 Junie nuwe nuwe nuwe gevalle met 59%, gevolg deur toetsvereistes kan hanteer. gevalle gevalle die Wes-Kaap met 12%. “Daar is veelvuldige toetslokale Vanaf Verlede Donderdag was 9 521 in agt van die nege provinsies, 2878 nuwe gevalle in Gauteng aangemeld, behalwe Oos-Kaap, saam met nuwe gevalle 29 Junie aktiewe wat beteken daar is altesaam verskillende toetsmetodes wat deur gevalle 588 009 gevalle in die provinsie. Sahpra goedgekeur is,” sê Sihlaba. ’n Totaal van 12 769 052 toetse “Dit sluit in die SARS-CoV-2 26 Junie Tshwane is in die openbare en private sektor PCR-toets.” 22 984 gedoen, waarvan 65 631 nuut was. Verlede week is bevestig dat 3 040 Met 257 private en 400 openbare die geweldige toename in Covid- Covid-19 fasiliteite, is daar tans 7 100 Covid- gevalle en die eksponensiële groei nuwe gevalle (-632) toelatings in private fasiliteite en daarvan gedryf word deur die Vanaf Dinsdag 3 636 in openbare fasiliteite. Delta-variant, wat in Indië ontstaan 29 Junie 2021 Friedland het gesê daar is het. 2 | PRETORIA WEST REKORD JULY 2, 2021 www.rekord.co.za NEWS Stop arresting us, say informal job seekers Lunga Mzangwe Informal job seekers who operate in the Danville park have called on the Tshwane metro police to stop harassing and chasing them away from the park as they were only trying to make ends meet. The painters, plumbers and electricians operate near the Daspoort tunnel and said they were being targeted and in some instances even being arrested for allegedly breaking Covid-19 regulations. “Offi cers have been telling us we are not allowed to stand at the park with our boards as we are breaking Covid-19 regulations,” said one of Job seekers at the park the men. An electrician, who asked not “Looking for a job is just a waste to be named, said the actions by of time and we only ask them to let the offi cers had come with great us continue being here and fi nding consequences to the well-being of piece jobs ourselves.” Godfrey Thsabuse and Lucky sitting outside the closed tavern. their families. A plumber agreed: “People come “This is the only way we get here because something has been money to pay rent, buy food and broken in their homes and they are buy clothes for our children. Being looking for someone to quickly fi x here does not guarantee that we it. Preventing us from being here is Tavern owners unhappy are even going to get any piece killing us.” jobs, so the police chasing us away He said the government should makes it worse. also be held responsible for not “They say we are too many in getting enough vaccines. with latest alcohol ban the park and we should leave as TMPD media liaison offi cer we can spread Covid-19. This is Nonhlanhla Tapala said offi cers who identifi ed himself as Lucky, Sibiya, said the ban was going to despite us being far apart from often arrested people in the area Lunga Mzangwe said the next 14 days would prove aff ect him and his family badly as each other. who did not comply with Covid-19 Atteridgeville tavern owners say to be very diffi cult as he had no business just started to pick up. “It’s not as if we gathered in regulations. they were disappointed with the other income. “The fi rst and second lockdown groups because the park is big.” Tapala said there were no ban on alcohol sale announced by “The ban will aff ect the well- aff ected us so badly. We were just The electrician said the regulations against people sitting President Ramaphosa on Sunday. being of my children as they will starting to pick up. I just hope the lockdown regulation has made in the park provided they complied Ramaphosa said alcohol sales not have food to eat. ban is not going to be extended situations worse for people who with Covid-19 rules. for on-site or off -site consumption beyond the 14 days because that are not employed or for informal “Our offi cers monitor these areas would be prohibited for 14 days. will have a lot of consequences, job seekers. especially if there are complaints The ban follows the cabinet’s not only with me but my “We do not get money from by residents about criminal decision that the country be moved employees as well.” anywhere. What are we supposed activities. to adjusted alert level four from This is how I make a living In a statement on Sunday, the to do at home with hungry “Anyone with complaints in the June 28 to July 11. Beer Association of South Africa stomachs? area can call 012 358 7095/6.” Galaxy Tavern owner Godfrey and now that the tavern has said it was seeking legal advice Tshabuse said the alcohol ban been closed, I have no other on the national government’s would not only aff ect him and his income. “inexplicable decision” to family, but also his employees. implement a fourth alcohol ban. “I have more than 10 Godfrey Tshabuse “As others have pointed employees,” he told Rekord. out, there is a vaccine against “During times like these, it’s no “This is where I get my income Covid-19, but not against poverty. work no pay. I have children and to make a living and now that The rise in infections is a direct they have children who also have it has been closed, I have no result of large gatherings, a lack of to eat. So shutting us down like other means. Schools closed on social distancing and the failure to this will come at a huge cost to Wednesday and the children will wear masks - not alcohol. families who rely on this income. be home all day. What are they “We have repeatedly “I have bought a lot of stock going to eat? communicated to government how which I had anticipated will last “The only thing I can think of the previous three alcohol bans me. What am I supposed to do with now is how people will turn into have devastated thousands of small it now? criminals and begin stealing. The businesses leaving owners, their “The best thing is for the government should be blamed. employees and families destitute. government to get the vaccines, so It is not like we will be getting Many more businesses will now people can get on with their lives. anything from them as a relief for fi nd themselves on the brink of We cannot continue like this.” the 14 days we will be home.” closure as a result of the latest 14- A job seeker drinking water at the park One of Tshabuse’s employees Another tavern owner, Mandla day ban and no fi nancial relief.”

“The Firearms Control shooters and hunters may possess Lunga Mzangwe Amendment Bill, 2021 replaces the and the reduction in the licensing The police ministry has continued Firearms Control Amendment Bill, period,” read the statement. Govt notes to note with interest the public 2015 that was submitted to cabinet The ministry said on Monday, debate around the proposed in February 2015. June 28, Police Minister Bheki Cele amendments to the Firearms “The comments received by extended the legislative process interest in Control Amendment Bill, 2021. and large oppose the repeal of that sought to mould the Firearms In a statement on Wednesday, the provisions pertaining to self Control Bill through public the ministry said since the bill defence, the collectors of fi rearms participation for 21 working days. proposed was published in the Government and ammunition, private collectors, “This period will commence Gazette for comments on Friday the reloading of ammunition, from July 5 and end on August 2.” May 21, more than 100 000 written the restrictions on the number of Visit the police’s website www. gun bill submissions have been received. fi rearms and ammunition that sport policesecretariat.gov.za.

Contact us Publisher Code of Conduct Audit Group Editor: Rekord is owned and published by Capital This newspaper has committed itself to report The distribution of this Sunette Visser / [email protected] Media, 32 Orpen Ave, Lydiana, Pretoria news truthfully and accurately, and to publish ABC newspaper is 0184; and printed by Caxton Printers, a comment that is fair, in accordance with the highest independently audited Tel: 012 842 0300 Business Manager: division of CTP Limited, 16 Wright Street, standards of journalism as set out in the Press to the professional Sabine Goodwin / [email protected] Industria. All rights and the reproduction of Code of South Africa. Complaints that this code standards administrated Address: 32 Orpen Ave all reports, photographs, drawings and all has been breached may be lodged with the offi ce by the Audit Bureau of Lydiana, Pretoria Sales Manager: materials published in this newspaper are of the Press Ombudsman. Written complaints, with Circulations of South 0184 Bianca Pretorius / [email protected] hereby reserved in terms of Section 12 (7) a copy of the report concerned, may be sent to the Africa. of the Copyright Act No 96 of 1978 and press Ombudsman: (Fax) 011 484 3612 or e-mail: Total weekly distribution: Distribution: [email protected] any amendments thereof. [email protected] 20 040 012 335 3760 www.rekord.co.za PRETORIA WEST REKORD JULY 2, 2021 | 3 Gauteng MEC visits Hercules ‘sinkhole’ spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, Gaopalelwe Moloko said last week by adding that the Gauteng MEC for Public Transport hole was not a sinkhole. and Road Infrastructure, Jacob “It is not a sinkhole. Mamabolo, visited Hercules in The problem comes from how the west of Pretoria on Tuesday the road was originally constructed to inspect a “sinkhole” that has and the wall sides of the road frustrated residents in the area the falling in when excavating,” she past two weeks. said. His visit was sparked by the The residents, whose complaints complaints of residents of an came after a delivery truck got alleged sinkhole, which started stuck in the huge hole, said they forming on the corner of Hendrick were unaware of the MEC’s visit and Taljaard streets after a pipe to the site. Residents also told burst nearly two months ago. Rekord last week that the area was The residents told Rekord that plagued by constant water leaks the sinkhole was cause for major and electricity interruptions. concern and they were fed up with Johan van Staden, a local the poor service delivery in the resident, said they weren’t aware area. of the MEC visiting the site. He During his visit, Mamabolo said nothing had changed in the said he would be working with area and the hole was still causing the Tshwane metro to ensure the a lot of issues for residents. issue was solved. The MEC said “We are very frustrated about the they would be hole. Even after the fi rst article [in supporting plans Rekord newspaper] nothing was put in place by done about this hole and it’s on one the metro that of the main streets which causes a would ensure the lot of traffi c,” said van Staden. road was fully A truck partially fell into the functioning again. The MEC will talk to the hole in the early morning hours of “A road closed CSIR about water testing in Friday, June 18. or not working the water that keeps filling “The truck driver was making deliveries and was not familiar aff ects the up the hole movement of with the area,” said Van Staden. Selowa said the city was doing people,” said Selowa The MEC says they will help the city to ensure that the problem is solved. Mamabolo. its best to ensure that the matter “We are promoting smart the risk it posed to motorists. He when the road would be fi xed. “The MEC will talk to the CSIR was resolved soon. mobility, we want the swift and said sealing and repairing the road She said the metro would need to about water testing in the water “We are doing everything seamless movement of freight and were critical to protecting human identify the source of the excessive that keeps fi lling up the hole, as possible considering that we also people from municipal, provincial lives. amount of water fi lling the hole. well as to provide the city with cannot have residents without and national roads.” Tshwane MMC for roads and She said the metro would also concrete barriers to seal off the water for a long duration of time if Mamabolo said the most transport, Dikeledi Selowa, said employ a geologist to assess the aff ected area,” said Selowa. we were to cut the water supply,” worrying issue about the hole was they were unsure of the exact date damage before road repairs. Selowa reiterated what the city’s said Selowa. 4 | PRETORIA WEST REKORD JULY 2, 2021 www.rekord.co.za www.rekord.co.za PRETORIA WEST REKORD JULY 2, 2021 | 5 Residents urged to go for jab Kamogelo Habanyane The Sammy Marks Old Council Chambers at the Sammy Marks square is now one of over 20 vaccination sites in Pretoria. The number of vaccination sites has increased over the past month due to the high rate of infections. Nurse Melanie Langeveldt said the site had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public so far. “Our uptake has not been that fast because there are a lot of misconceptions about the vaccine,” she said. “We need to spread the news that people do not get ill from the vaccine and that it is eff ective.” Langeveldt said there was an observation The Tshwane municipality’s fi nance area and an emergency section where people department MMC Mare-Lise Fourie during a who have just been vaccinated are observed media briefi ng at Tshwane House in Pretoria. for any side eff ects. “There are plenty of elderly people who do not know how to register themselves so Photo for illustration only. Photo: Ron Sibiya we assist those who were not able to register Infrastructure online to do so onsite.” COMMUNITY REACTS There are also posters throughout Sammy damage ‘costly’ Marks square to direct people to where the vaccinations are being done. Sinesipho Schrieber “It is important for our people over 60 to know where to go so we tried to put signs up Although the Tshwane metro was given all around the place,” said Langeveldt. a thumbs up for its ability to account for Members of the public were encouraged to money the municipality used, the Auditor learn more about the vaccine and how it can General’s report raised concerns over help South Africa signifi cantly reduce the unprotected infrastructure, water and number of infections. electricity losses being costly. John Adonis: The site also has medical students from As the 2020/2021 fi nancial year for Mariana Erasmus: J.L. Mohale: “It was very fast and easy. the University of Pretoria who are assisting. municipalities comes to an end this month “It was easy. The process “I am just fi ne. I was Once my temperature was Rekord spoke to some of the people who the Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke to get vaccinated went actually frightened when I checked, I went through just received their fi rst dose of the vaccine. tabled to parliament on Tuesday the smoothly.” got here.” and got vaccinated.” 2019/2020 municipal fi nance management audit outcomes and the Covid-19 relief expenditure report. Unlike most municipalities aff ected by temporary leadership of administrators due Teen pregnancy issue at informal settlements She questioned whether she was ready to to political instability failing to account for NoxoloNoxol Sibiya billions of rands used, the Tshwane metro be a mother, or whether she was ready to was able to account for its spending. InformalInform settlements in South Africa face conform to Shona customs and move in with The audit analysis was conducted for over severaseveral social ills with teenage pregnancy her partner. 200 municipalities with a common fi nding being oneo of them. Falling pregnant at a “I was only 19, fresh out of high school. It of fi nancial positions of municipalities young age can be a traumatic and lonely was supposed to be the beginning of my life and now I was beginning someone else’s life, continuing to plummet. experience.experie Tshwane was under temporary how am I going to manage? Such was the experience of a 20-year-old “Being a pastor’s child also didn’t make it administration for seven months last year. MelissaMeliss Maphosa of the Zama Zama informal Yet it received an unqualifi ed audit easy because there were expectations that I settlement,settlem west of Pretoria, who fell pregnant should be married fi rst before I have a child. opinion which means they were able to at the agea of 19 shortly after completing her account for monies used. “I decided to keep the child. Luckily, my matric.matric partner - who has since become my best This despite the metro having fl agged MaphosaMap completed her matric facing fi nancial troubles which have been friend - supported my in 2019201 at the Daspoort pinned on the R4.4-billion defi cit incurred decision.” secondarysecond school, however, under the leadership of the administrators Maphosa volunteers coming from a household as a community with a single mother who health worker through didn’t earn much money, an initiative by the meant she could not study University of Pretoria by any furfurther. which a clinic is set up “I wantedw to study law, but to provide free primary I didn’didn’t have the money,” healthcare to vulnerable In Tshwane there was a reservoir she saisaid. communities. At each project that was being vandalised “I gotgo admission to Tuks, of the clinics, healthcare but I couldc not pursue my volunteers assist the because it was not being studies.studies The informal university with running safeguarded, the security around “With“Wit my mother being a the clinic. settlement health there was not up to scratch. pastor, I found myself doing A fl uent Shona, a ChristianChris course while programme address English and Setswana I was tryingt to fi gure out these issues by speaker, Maphosa Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke how I would achieve my started off as an While tabling her report, the AG raised dreams.”dreams working within these interpreter between the concerns over the lack of protection of It waswa during this time communities. university’s students, infrastructure, she said this resulted in MaphosaMapho fell pregnant. who were running vandalism and added more costs for the “I didn’tdi know much about Healthcare expert - projects in various municipality. She further raised concerns sex. TheTh fi rst time I tried, I Dr Ellenore Meyer informal settlements, over water and electricity losses hitting hard fell pregnant,”pre she said. and the residents. on the revenue collection. “I wasw scared. My mother She suddenly found “In Tshwane there was a reservoir project didn’t know right away, I only told her two herself helping with small things such as that was being vandalised because it was not monthmonths later.” weighing children during medical checks. being safeguarded, the security around there One of her biggest struggles was facing “I started helping where I could. Before I was not up to power,” Maluleke said. a harsh and judgmental society while she knew it, I was part of the team, campaigning “There was also a waste water treatment herself was struggling to forgive herself. and educating people about their health. plant in Tshwane where assets were being She said she also lost friends because of her “I joined a team of health workers who stolen and infrastructure being vandalised pregnapregnancy. are raising awareness on the importance which at some point somebody will have to “Being“Bei judged was the hardest thing to deal of breastfeeding and wishes to do more to pay for and this directly aff ects the ability to with. PPeople had a lot to say and it wasn’t prevent teenage pregnancies at informal deliver services.” nice ththings,” she said. settlements.” Tshwane was also among the 43 “My best friend laughed at me for falling Her father died in 2004, and Maphosa and municipalities selected by the AG’s offi ce pregpregnant. I felt lonely.” her sister were raised by her mother, then a Covid-19 relief fund fraud and control The young mother said she had a lot local teacher at a nearby nursery. assessment, procurement and utilisation of oof things going through her head - one She said fewer stories of single mothers in PPE and the procurement and installation of oof them the option of terminating the informal settlements could be told if enough Melissa Maphosa (20) water tanks . prpregnancy.e was being done to educate youngsters. 6 | PRETORIA WEST REKORD JULY 2, 2021 www.rekord.co.za SPORT SuperSport’s Phillips takes a bit of a break

SuperSport United right-back and I felt very blessed to be able Keenan Phillips is enjoying to be called up whilst being with a seasonal break after a busy my family who is my biggest 2019/20 DStv Premiership support system,” he said. season. “I always believe that it is The Pretoria club fi nished fi fth important to take every day as it on the log and failed to defend comes.” their MTN8 title. Phillips said his two main “The off -season break has goals were to play in Europe and defi nitely been good on the also win the young player of the body. We had a tough season season award. playing back to back games so “I want to experience the type being able to recover properly of football they play in Europe and spend time with in the near future but family was great,” at the moment, said the 21-year-old “I will focus on Phillips. doing my job at “Going back SuperSport United home to Cape Town Playing for South Football Club. to see my family “I’m back in unfortunately did Africa is definitely Johannesburg already not allow me to be a privilege as I and it always helps participating in any will represent my to get back into projects. the swing of things “While at home I country with pride before the pre-season mainly focused on Keenan Phillips starts,” he said. recovery, mentally “I try to go to and physically as the gym as often well as trained following the off - as possible and I have been season programme.” following the off -season The young disciplined right- programme that the technical back has been impressive in the team sent to us to help us stay in past campaign which saw him shape.” get a Bafana Bafana call-up and He urged the public to take the also be named Man of the Match pandemic seriously by staying at against Mamelodi Sundowns home as much as possible. back in January. “Drink your vitamins, sanitise “The Bafana Bafana call-up is and put on those masks.” defi nitely a big moment for me. “Playing for South Africa is defi nitely a privilege as I will Watch Keenan represent my country with pride. Phillips here: https:// “I got called up whilst being at www.youtube.com/ home in Cape Town. watch?v=7RCzY4qdDi0 “It came as a great surprise

Supersport United defender Keenan Phillips. Photo: Supersport United Twiter page www.rekord.co.za PRETORIA WEST REKORD JULY 2, 2021 | 7 SPORT The epitome of a life ‘without any limits’ Kesa Molotsane will Africa’s top distance continue her proud athletes and strong female association with the SPAR role models. Women’s Challenge, from “My biggest limit was leading in the front during having the whole class race day to shining in the turn their backs on me in virtual space. grade 7. I believe that it The 2017 SPAR Grand was bullying on a diff erent Prix winner may miss level. I overcame that the excitement of live by understanding that racing on spectator-lined not everyone will be as streets, but refuses to allow considerate as you are. pandemic restrictions to I was open to learning limit her love for the road. and treating experiences as Molotsane, who has learning curves and not as represented South Africa failures,” said Molotsane. on the international stage She does not only talk in track and cross country, the talk but will once again has been named SPAR be leading from the front Women’s Virtual Challenge when she lines up for the ambassador. SPAR Women’s Virtual The 29-year-old does not Challenge, which will be only excel on the road, the held on September 4. track, and off -road but is Entries will close on ploughing her experience August 15, and are limited back into the sport as the to 75 000 participants. recently appointed vice- This year you will again chairperson of the Athletics be able to not only create SA Athletes’ commission. your own race number She is an example online, but you can also of what it is to create your own certifi cate After having to overcome a few career-threatening setbacks, Rikenette Steenkamp is now ready again to take on the best on #LiveLimitless, having of completion – check out the track in the 100m hurdles.Photo: Reg Caldecott overcome school bullying sparvirtualchallenge.co.za to become one of South and follow the easy steps. Local hurdles star is happy to be racing after Covid was all to do with Covid,” she explained. doing what she loves. That is to race Koos Venter Steenkamp fi rst raced in April during the 100m-hurdles. “The one thing I am Rikenette Steenkamp proved that you the South African Championships in proud of is that I stuck it out through can’t keep a good woman down when Pretoria. Her race defi nitely did not play my whole ordeal. I think if I had quitted she recently won the 100m-hurdles at a as she had hoped. athletics, I would have regretted it,” she Tuks club meeting in a time of 13.23s. She ran 13.74s during the heats. commented. 2016 was also a year of Even though the wind from behind Her heart rate was sky high immense frustration for Steenkamp. She was slightly too strong, she could not afterwards. A cardiologist advised her to would race and then be in so much pain help but smile. refrain from doing any physical exercise that she had to take a break. She was The South African record holder had for three weeks. diagnosed as having an extra bone in her good reason to do so. Her next race was last weekend. ankle. The only solution was to have the It was only her third race of the According to Steenkamp, she only bone surgically removed. season. In January, she tested positive did one complete set of hurdles during As part of the rehabilitation process, for Covid-19 and she really got sick. training before she raced. Steenkamp was confi ned to bed rest for “2021 is without a doubt the most “I only had one goal, and that was to six weeks. She had to relearn how to challenging year of my athletics career. face my fears.” walk correctly again. And believe me, I had to overcome some I was second running 13.61s. It was considerable challenges in the past. the ice breaker I needed as I was more There were times I wondered if I ever confi dent on Saturday,” she remarked. would get to race again. The Tuks hurdler is planning to “I would think I had recovered and race again as soon as the new Covid 2021 started to train. Two weeks later, I would regulations are lifted, but she has not The most challenging year of be sick again. I suff ered ailments I have set her sights on any specifi c time. her athletics career. never heard of. I am not sure whether it For now, she is happy to be on track Kesa Molotsane is an example of what it is to #LiveLimitless.

Bulls bounce back against plucky Pumas this weekend After losing in their fi rst game with a very weakened team against WP, defending Carling Currie Cup champions, the Blue Bulls, scored a hard-fought 32-27 win over an ever-charging Pumas side at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening. Thanks to a 17-3 lead at the break, the home side managed a good enough buff er to withstand the Lowvelders’ fi ghtback in the second half. Marcell Coetzee and his men scored four tries and the visitors three. The Blue Bulls will gladly take the bonus point though, while the visitors at least have a losing bonus point to show for their eff orts. Cornal Hendricks (with ball) was again one of the home team’s standouts and also scored one of the four tries. Photo: simondp@actionimage Local hurdles star happy to be JULY 2, 2021 012-842-0300 racing after Covid Tributes pour in for former Bulls president Koos Venter The Blue Bulls Rugby-union (BBRU), as well as various individuals and organisations in the South African rugby community, have been paying tribute to the former president of the Blue Bulls, Boet Fick, who passed away over the weekend. The popular and beloved rugby man, who until fairly recently was still actively involved as a rugby administrator in the game, was 86 years old. Fick led the union in a time of great success on the fi eld and during his era as president, the Bulls dominated SuperRugby with three titles in four seasons. The charismatic, humble, and soft spoken Nicolaas Hendrik Fick, in rugby circles aff ectionately known as “Oom Boet”, served as president of the BBRU from 2005 to 2010, having deputised before that from 2002. Lawrence Brittain will be back at the Olympics as part of the South African rowing team in the men’s coxless fours. Photo: Reg Caldecott He fi rst became involved in rugby administration through the club ranks in the Far North province (Limpopo Blue Bulls) from the early 1970s, before advancing to the position of Vice President of the Blue Tuks athletes following others Bulls General Council. He then advanced to the top post at the Bulls. After he stepped down as president of the Blue Bulls, he was elected to the SA Rugby part of Olympic Games legacy Executive, serving for a period of eight years before fi nally stepping down from rugby- When you chase perfection, athletes won six medals (two She repeated the feat during administration in 2018. After his tenure you catch excellence. This gold, three silver and one the 2019 World Student with the Blue Bulls, he was also appointed is the principle by which bronze). It equates to 40% Games. That same year, lifelong honorary vice president at the union. the athletes and coaches at of the medals won by South Schoenmaker also won silver Willem Strauss, current president of the TuksSport abide. Africa’s athletes. There is a at the World Championships. BBRU, shared a few fond memories. Judging by the results, they real chance that one or two Some predict that USA’s “Oom Boet was the absolute defi nition of are succeeding. So far, 24 Tuks athletes could medal in sprinters can win all three a ‘rugby-servant’ – loving, respecting, and Tuks athletes, fi ve coaches Tokyo. medals in the 100 metres serving the game at every opportunity he and one referee have been Tatjana Schoenmaker is a during the Tokyo Olympic got. selected to represent South defi nite medal contender. In Games. “He will go down in history as an unsung Africa at the Tokyo Games. April, during the Olympic The last time that hero at Loftus, doing the hard yards behind At least three more athletes trials in Port Elizabeth, happened was during the the scenes to make sure our beautiful game and one coach could be Schoenmaker won the 1912 Stockholm Games.The continued to grow and fl ourish. 200m-breaststroke in 2:20.17. statistics certainly favour “He always had a few kind words and It is one of the seventh- the Americans to dominate advice for me in my role and those around ‘Oarsome Foursome’ fastest times ever. She also the short sprint. Trayon him in our system. won gold while set Africa records in the Bromell is so far the “I remember him joking on the day I 50m-breaststroke (30:32) fastest, having run 9.77s accepted the role as president, saying that Lawrence Brittain and and the 100m-breaststroke this season. Ronny Baker he won all the major cups during his term, Shaun Keeling teamed (1:05.74). clocked 9.85s and Fred and now I needed to go forward and do the up to win silver in the It is interesting to note that Trayvon Kerley 9.86s. same,” said Strauss. Schoenmaker has medalled Tuks’ Gift Leotlela “We knew each other for a little over 30 at each major international clocked 9.94s, which years, from the days of Far North and even named next week when championship over the last ranks him as one of the South-Eastern Transvaal Rugby. the fi nal team selection is four years. During the 2017 eight fastest sprinters in the “In that time, he shared many valuable announced. World Student Games, world this season. lessons not only in sport administration but Tuks’ athletes have a proud she won a silver medal in But the man that should also personally. tradition when it comes to the 200m-breaststroke. worry the Americans is Tuks’ “He will be missed.” competing at the Olympics. At the 2018 Gold Coast Akani Simbine, even though During the 2012 London Commonwealth Games, she his best time so far is 9.99s. It Olympic Games and the won two gold medals (100 should be remembered that he 2016 Rio Olympics, Tuks’ and 200m breaststroke). ran against a 3m/s headwind. Simbine is, without a doubt, a man on a mission. During the 2016 Olympics, he fi nished fi fth in the fi nal. He was fourth in the fi nal during the 2019 Doha World Championships. Over the last four years, Simbine has outsprinted most of the world’s best sprinters at least once. South Africa’s 4x100m relay team and 4x400m relay teams qualifi ed to compete in Tokyo. Akani Simbine fi nished fi fth in the 100m The late Boet Fick was president of the There is a real chance fi nal of the 2016 Olympics and he will Blue Bulls in an era of great success on the Local swimming superstar, Tatjana Schoenmaker, is a defi nite that six or more of the relay defi nitely try to reach at least the fi nal playing fi eld for the rugby union. medal contender in Tokyo. Photo: Reg Caldecott athletes will be from Tuks. again in Tokyo. Photo: Reg Caldecott Photo: Johanna de Vos