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February 2021
By Steuart Pennington
Annually Transparency International produces a Corruption Perceptions Index (the methodology is outlined below). The report is comprehensive.
Below I have summarized the most important numbers for easy reading, while SA ranks in the top 40% of least corrupt countries at 69 /180 (we have been as high as 50 /180) our ranking has declined over the past 10 years and we are more ‘corrupt’ than we are ‘clean’.
When comparing population size and GDP we rank in the top 35 countries of the world, we should do the same regarding corruption.
[read more]
Hambani Kahle MaQhawe
A video tribute to the heroic and remarkable lives of five healthcare heroes
Thursday 28 January 2021, In a field, on a farm near Winterton, five white crosses and five indigenous trees now mark the place where Dr Kgopotso Rudolf Mononyane, Dr Curnick Siyabonga (Siya) Mahlangu, Mpho Xaba, all from Netcare Milpark Hospital, Sinjin Joshua Farrance of Netcare 911 and Mark Stoxreiter from National Airways Corporation (NAC) died in the line of duty.
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My School, My Village, My Planet during December 2020, partnered with Woolworths to work towards a #zerohunger future.
They reached their goal of giving 1 million meals over the festive season. The new year is also a time of renewed hope, where together they’ll continue to support the incredible work of all our beneficiaries across the country.
Read how Khanyisa Development Centre, is helping shine a light on special needs education, and how Christel House is going solar thanks to a generous donation.
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JP Landman
Political & Trend Analyst
A proverbial storm has developed around South Africa’s procurement, or the perceived lack thereof, of Covid-19 vaccines. People are understandably anxious and have many questions. I therefore compiled this note from publicly available information, and trust readers find it useful.
What is approved and available?
Currently (though this changes all the time), there are five approved vaccines available in the world. All of them require two shots, administered roughly three weeks apart. One must therefore distinguish between doses and number of people treated – two doses are needed for each person.
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One of Africa’s largest and most anticipated public arts festivals, the International Public Art Festival (IPAF), is proud to announce the launch of the “Beyond Walls” Project by Saype. Representing unity, mutual aid and common effort beyond geographical constraints, the Beyond Walls project features the longest human chain in the world. This is depicted through pairs of local hands painted on land, which intertwine from town to town. The project will kick off at the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town as a precursor to the IPAF on the 25th of January 2021. The IPAF Festival runs from 10-14 February.
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DURBAN – Cricket South Africa (CSA) has taken heed the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa to act against the scourge of violence against women and children in this country by officially launching one of the most anticipated events on South Africa’s cricketing calendar, the Black Day One-Day International in Durban.
The cause-driven Black Day ODI game is set for Saturday, 23 January 2021 at the impressive Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium and will see the Momentum Proteas, donned in their black kit, take on Pakistan Women at one of the South Africa’s most premier women sports event.
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Vaccines, how much!?
Pricing for COVID vaccines varies based on a country’s income status in order to make the vaccine as widely available as possible.
For example, the Pfizer vaccine will cost $10 a dose in South Africa; approximately 50% lower than in the U.S. ($19.50). Overall the South African Government estimates that it will cost R20.6bn to vaccinate 67% of the population by the end of 2021.
(http://bit.ly/39Kovv1, http://bit.ly/3qxTst1)
How to transport so many vaccines?
Vaccines need to be transported in glass vials made from Borosilicate glass; a specialized glass which doesn’t shatter in ultra-low temperatures and won’t release small glass particles into the vaccine. Schott, the world’s largest manufacturer of Borosilicate glass expect they will need to make 500 to 600 million more vials than usual in 2021 to meet the demand for COVID vaccines.
(http://n.pr/2LNWafm)
Operation Vaccination
As of 19 Jan 2021, there have been a total of 46.9m vaccine doses administered globally. The USA and China account for more than half of these with each having administered roughly 15m doses. In terms of population immunity, Israel and the UAE lead the world with approximately 33% and 21% of their respective populations vaccinated.
(http://bit.ly/394HukH)
Effective Vaccines
As of 15 January 2021, the CDC authorises and recommends two COVID vaccines: The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and Moderna’s vaccine. During clinical trials, these two vaccines were 95% and 94.1% effective at preventing COVID-19 illness in patients who had no evidence of having been infected.
(http://bit.ly/3p5qO2i, http://bit.ly/3qETj7b)
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