Here are some descriptions from friends in South Africa:
We are clinging on the hope of getting the vaccine early Feb. The first two weeks will be spent receiving and doing quality checks and distributing to the provinces.
Phase 1 will start during the 3rd week when the vaccine is given to Frontline workers ( health workers).
Efforts are being made to dispel fears arising from myths and disinformation. There are some people who downplay the seriousness of the disease. That is a disaster we are faced with.
Rhosta Gcaba, January 28th, 2021
I saw the numbers of COVID-19 dropping in SA too but I am concerned when I think about the possibility of a second wave. Our Churches will only be opening for this first time this coming Sunday, 18 October.
We are on level 1 of the Lockdown. Some people are no longer following the correct regulations ??♀️, they are having big evening functions with many people??♀️
Zama Hlengwa, Durban-South parish, October 14th, 2020
R10000 or being kept in prison for 6 months
The minister of Health last stated in the news that we the people must be strict on taking care of ourselves the ball is on our court. As a department they are more than ready with everything that may be required. We as the people must be strict on following the rules. Not putting on a mask in a public place is a criminal offence which may result to the offender paying R10000 or being kept in prison for 6 months or both i.e. paying and being improsined. Our Church is still not allowing us to use the church buildings as all congregations have to fulfill certain obligations. Congregations have to satisfy the parish a out the state of readiness. The parish has to satisfy the circuit and the circuit to report and satisfy the diocese and the diocese to report and satisfy ELCSA. That is what our parish pastor told us. We have been told that if there is a fire need to pray together people must not be more than 10 and take all the necessary precautions. We are still scared to meet. Having said that l must say that other denominations are meeting. Most Churches in Westville have started services.
Rhosta Gcaba, Christianenburg parish, October 11th, 2020
Food parcels for 35 families in Ntuzuma parish
Today we as Ntuzuma Parish will be giving food parcels to 35 families. The money is from the circuit partnership... You remember the money you collect at your circuit and give to 3 circuits in SA, which are Durban, uMvoti and uMngeni? Yes the circuits divide it to their parishes, and today Ntuzuma will give to 35 families in the Parish. Just thought I should share with you... Thank you.
Thank you so much Arenshorst Parish and circuits in Osnabrück region for making today's project successful. Ntuzuma parish managed to give food parcels to 35 families in Ntuzuma...
May God bless you abundantly because without donations from you, this would not have happened... Thank you so much.
Rev. Fikile Nhlangulela, Ntuzuma parish, September 16th, 2020
14 families have benefited
"I am very happy to inform you that finally the money you sent through our circuit to help the congregations has finally been distributed to all parishes who further distributed it to all congregations. In Mooi River a total of 14 families have benefited they are receiving vouchers worth R400.00 we are grateful Henning may God bless all the individuals and families who contributed to this special and wonderful gesture please convey the same to others Henning wherever and whenever you meet any of them."
Muzi Mtethwa, Mooiriver (PMB-South parish)
Women of Christianenburg parish in action
"The food parcels were collected from donations made by the various Leagues of St. Boniface. They were only given to 12 people. We are busy preparing for the second round which will be given to other needy people that did not receive in the first round. We are not yet using the church as there are stringent rules laid down by the Government regarding fumigation by a Government approved fumigator who will cost an arm and a leg. Currently the church is putting up structures in each congregation, parish, circuit and Diocese right up to ELCSA to control all church activities to ensure correct practice and control as you can see that distribution was done outside the church building. Thank you for the donation for our parishes. The parishes will soon be using it for the needy people. It definitely will go a long way to help all congregations in the parish as at the moment we are doing what we can at parish level."
Mrs Pearl Lindiwe September the chairperson of the Health & Welfare committee of St. Boniface and of course Rev. Sithole coordinate the action in Christianenburg parish.
Rhosta Gcaba at Juli 4th 2020
"The sad thing is that although the number of infections is not as high as Gauteng and Cape Town but Ethekwini (Durban and surounding locations) death rate is the highest in the country. Präsident Cyril Ramaphosa has been a shining star in coordinating leading teams from various professionals, scientists, academics and interest community groups to set up systems to curtail the spread of the disease. Unfortunately it can not be prevented but can be somewhat controlled. The sad situation is that over 9 million school children who have been assisted to get food from a school feeding program can not get food because of schools being closed since March. High unemployment, continuous loss of jobs exposes people from possibly dying from hunger on one side and from Covid,- 19 on the other hand. The Government has tried in many ways to raise money which means increasing debt to support the poor. Through the media over 16 million rand has been raised by people from all walks of life to provide food parcels for the poor. Some people in the rural areas find it difficult to keep to the Lockdown rules of reducing the number of people in funerals, stop going to church and avoid overcrowding by stopping organising community rituals like weddings and parties. This raises the infection rate. The Department of health started intensive case finding by testing communities. They should be testing about 8000 people country wide on a daily basis. Through this activity they are able to find cases who would probably not even go to hospital because they may not even be having symptoms of the disease and yet spreading the virus. Ethekwini is one of the hot sports of the disease do ad much as possible we should be observing the rules of preventing spreading the disease.“
Rhosta Gcaba, Durban-Westville, 26.04.2020
Das vollständige Video gibt es hier: https://youtu.be/pMFSSr0sIFo
„I sell sweets, fries, cookies, and fruit at Dukemini Elementary School. I have had no income since the Covid 19 pandemic because I depend on the money I make from selling it.”
Miss Elisabeth Mlambo
"Social distancing in a tin hut settlement is simply impossible: If seven people live on 9m² and the next tin hut is one meter away, there is a tap for 30 tin huts and there are no toilets, then there is no way out.”
Joe Lüdemann, Durban
“As for the food parcels, I think they are not enough and do not reach everyone. I think it’s best if people get coupons or money to shop for themselves for about 3 months. ”