Pretoria Moot JANUARY 29, 2021 • www.rekordmoot.co.za • 012-842-0300 Visit our website for breaking Local police will help Mobile kiosks plan for School is next stage for local, national and international news. with gun amnesty 2 renewing licences 3 her after 19 operations 4 www.rekordmoot.co.za A R1,2-million ambulance with a special isolation chamber for patients with highly infectious diseases was bought at just the right time, the Tshwane metro emergency care metro says.y practitioners Jocelyn Johnson and Tshidiso Mhlanga. ‘‘ Photos: Ron Sibiya. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx Brave unit in fight against Covid-19 Sinesipho Schrieber onto the chassis. isolation chamber the medical “It has an isolation chamber practitioners can continue giving The procurement of a special equipped with a negative pressure treatment to them without easily R1.2-million ambulance, designed fi ltration system that fi ts on the being infected. to transport patients with highly stainless steel monobloc ambulance “Just like all other health workers infectious diseases, by the Tshwane stretcher. and other frontline workers, metro in August last year came at just “The negative pressure isolation paramedics work in an environment the right time. chamber allows the patient to be with an inherent risk of infection. The ambulance is equipped with a scanned in the chamber without “Our team of paramedics working special isolation chamber. exposing the radiology staff to on the special infectious unit It may not have been bought with infection such as Covid-19 and ambulance is trained and equipped Covid-19 in mind, but the metro without needing to decontaminate to handle medical emergencies believes that it has strengthened its the computerised tomography (CT) where suspected or known cases of response with the current wave of scanning suite.” infectious substances are involved,” Covid-19 cases hitting Tshwane. While the patient would be inside he said. “It is the fi rst of its kind in South the stretcher covered with transparent “The team adheres to strict Africa,” said Tshwane emergency materials, Mabaso said they could protocols and standard operating services spokesperson Charles breathe and receive medication. procedures aimed at protecting them Mabaso. “A 50-litre fridge is installed for from getting infected. The ambulance in question is refrigerated medications. “To date, no staff member working part of a special unit of bulletproof “Piped medical oxygen with two on the special infectious unit ambulances that sprang into action wall outlets, four power points, two ambulance has been infected with last year. ultraviolet antimicrobial lights and Covid-19.” Mabaso said it fulfi lled a key fi lters are installed. The ambulance is part of the requirement to deal with hazardous “It has the capability for critical Tshwane emergency services fl eet of incidents such as viral hemorrhagic care level of treatment,” he said. specialised vehicles launched on fever, extensively drug-resistant At a time when the safety of health 12 August last year. or multidrug-resistant tuberculosis workers during the pandemic is “We procured the vehicle as part and Covid-19 patient treatment and under the spotlight, the ambulance is of our vehicle replacement strategy transportation. a heaven-sent. which is aimed at providing world- “The box body of the ambulance is Mabaso said the equipment class emergency services. mounted separately from the cabin of isolated the patient from the crew “The need for such a vehicle was the vehicle. and helped to lessen chances of the identifi ed by our management team “It is constructed from aviation infection spreading. while studying various outbreaks, technology polyurethane and is a “It serves as a protective measure, like Ebola and tuberculosis long Tshwane metro emergency care practitioner Tshidiso Mhlanga. hermetically sealed unit mounted while the patient would be in the before the Covid-19 outbreak.” 2 PRETORIA MOOT REKORD JANUARY 29, 2021 NEWS www.rekordmoot.co.za Loadshedding is damaging ailing metro infrastructure Noxolo Sibiya “Unfortunately, when Eskom switches power off and on in the city it can The Tshwane metro spent close to signifi cantly harm and damage electricity R12.5-million on damages caused infrastructure due to the continued power to its various primary substations by surges,” he said. loadshedding in the year 2020. “For example, during loadshedding This was according to Tshwane mayor geysers cool down, then when Randall Williams, who said the metro power is restored all of these geysers suff ered a major blow to its infrastructure in a particular area will heat up due to electricity cuts by power utility, simultaneously. Eskom. “This causes an abnormal peak for Williams said loadshedding also caused a short period which can disrupt the prolonged power outages, which left municipal circuits.” many parts of the metro in the dark for Williams said this was nothing new Captain Anton Breedt. longer than expected. and the impact of loadshedding was often persistent for hours, leaving residents without any power and was constantly causing damage on infrastructure that was not designed for this type of activity. Moot cops to help gun Some residents have been experiencing outages since the start of the year. With stage 2 being implemented, Williams said the prolonged outages were persistent now because areas were being owners with amnesty turned on and off repeatedly during the day. Carli Koch the act will also be assisted with their “The result is that substations can trip, applications. old cable joints that can’t handle the load Police would like to remind the community “The community must please take note will explode,” he said that the deadline for the fi rearm amnesty that during these times and dates, only A Tshwane metro vehicle from the “Switches can fail along with various ends on 31 January 2021. owners handling fi rearms under the act electricity department. Photo: Sulet other issues that can plague our city With the fi rearm amnesty that was will be assisted and no new applications or Linde infrastructure.” announced by the minister of police on renewals will be accepted,” said Breedt. 1 August 2020 to 31 January 2021, time is “Doors will close at 20:00 due to the running out for those who qualify under the curfew,” he added. act to hand in unwanted fi rearms or those Moot police station commander Colonel whose licences have expired. Hlengeni Giben Mashaba urged fi rearm Break the silence Moot police station is off ering to help owners to make use of the opportunity the residents over this coming weekend. act is providing. Police spokesperson Captain Anton Breedt “We want to urge community members to said that the station will assist residents from assist police to rid our streets of unwanted ƑƏƆƋƐ÷ƇƆƐƕƈƈƌƍƏƐƐƐnd 08:00 to 20:00 on Saturday and Sunday for fi rearms, ammunition and parts thereof, We care about each of our patients and take every and all safety fi rearm owners who wish to make use of the that may cause death or harm to others,” precautions before and after each appointment. amnesty. Mashaba said. “Residents who want to apply under “Communities are also again urged to ÏFree ƆƏƈƅƏƆƆƈƐƆƐ report suspicious activities, persons or ÏFree ƅƆƅƊéƑƍƇƕƑƏƆƏƈƈƗ vehicles in their residential areas by phoning ÏdƍƆƅƈƋƆƏƈƈƗƍƅƊƆ the 10111 emergency number.” ÏjyƐƏƆƌƆƏƈƅƋƑƗƆƗƓƈƐƾƆƏƈƈƗê Individuals can surrender their illegal and unwanted fi rearms, fi rearm parts Ï`ƆƅƆƈƒƆƐƆƋƆƍƆƅƋƋƐƏƑƕƑƏƗƆƒƈƅƆê 18462/29-1-21 or ammunition without fear of being prosecuted. WE WILL Since the start of the amnesty last year, a BEAT ANY VERKOPERS!! large number of fi rearms and ammunition WRITTEN were handed in at the Moot police station. Ons benodig dringend eiendomme ÏƍƍƏƒƆƗƄƕƋƋƌƆƗƈƅƋƈƗ QUOTE! The objective of the amnesty period, is in die Moot-area. Kontak ons asb vir to reduce the large pool of illegal/unwanted ÏƆƐƏƋƋƕƋƅƐƆƗƇƏƕƑƏƅƒƆƈƆƅƆƅƆ professionele en flink diens. fi rearms, ammunition and/or fi rearm parts. 012 004 0705 | Waverley Plaza 083 306 5664 In terms of section 139(4)(a) of the fi rearms control act, act 2000 (act no 60 of 18412/29-1-21 2000), a person who surrenders a fi rearm in THE compliance with a notice published in terms FsAsMsIsLsY of subsection (1) may apply for a licence in EXPERIENCE respect of the fi rearm. SingleSingle vision R1 450450 Bifocal R2 350350 MultifocalMultifocal R3R3 450450 EEyeye test, qualitqualityy frame and lenses included. ONE FREE EYE TEST FEB IS THE MONTH OF for friend/family member if you purchase one of above packages for yourself. Love 012 543 9206 | 012 756 2020 HOLT 4U Ts & Cs apply. Prices are for cash packages. Optometrists / OogkundigesOogkundiges Valid till 15 February 2021. 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