some pics taken Today 1 during Lock-Down:
South Africa Lock-Down Day 1
I do not consider myself a writer per se, but like many of us who do dabble in writing, we find healing in words and sharing info. So here goes.
Eerily quiet this morning when we woke up this side…. after a hectic night of waiting for all to get back from last minute shopping before locking gates at midnight, and staff getting drunk and calling for assistance around 02h00 in the morning…Hubby will go and check out possible/reported structural damage to the living quarters later this morning (I really hope everyone exhausted all their alcohol last night already and No, I am not going to hand out paracetamols this morning. Stupidity has natural consequences and then you have to live through it).
We this side, will be functioning during the lock-down on various levels, being exempted as one of the essential services. Our lock-down pertains to people and families living with the borders of the ‘farm’ itself. With of course, lots of disaster regulations and safety measures at work.
It was quite a mission the last couple of days to put in place arrangements & measures, such as paying salaries earlier, to do monthly staff rations [for at least 130 staff - and their families] delivered in time (for at least 2 months), arranging additional security against possible increasing crime, getting staff back earlier from leave (those who wanted to come back instead of rather spending time across provincial borders with their other families) and to make sure immunity compromised staff obtain all their relevant medications for this lock-down or more lock-down time to come.
One thing I am extremely grateful for, is: living in the technological era (well, industrial revolution IV, or AI). We are SO fortunate to still able to stay in contact with family and friends! I get chills simply thinking about what the people went through during i.e. the Black Death/Bubonic Plague Pandemic (which decimated about 60% of the world population). Not being able to know where your family or friends are, not having any contact, not knowing whether they’re alive or dead…. No wonder so many of them rushed off to check each other’s wellbeing…. Which we now understand had disastrous, deadly consequences.
Once again I urge everyone to make use of still available communication methods, to stay in contact especially with your parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren; those who now are in total isolation; alone. And far from you. They will need to hear your friendly supportive voice during this time. While various measure have been put in place (such as lowered internet fees to enable scholars to use internet to continue education, lowered airtime fees, etc.) There will be over-using of communication systems …We are already starting to experience this. The last couple of days while we have sufficient signal – servers do not respond to the overload already.
My heart goes out to those people only receiving their salaries only today. And tomorrow. Or at March month end. Not all companies are/were able to pay salaries at short notice of a Disaster Shut-down plan. And the SASSA (grant dependent) people in SA, who will have to venture out as from 30 March on the streets…. With limited transport. If calculations are correct, we are looking at, at least 19 milj of the 59/60 milj people in SA, who will have to go out during the lock-down to obtain their monies, and to purchase basic food items.
Not all people were or will ever be, able to stock up for the minimum 3 weeks (And don’t get me going on the absolutely crazy, havoc shopping the last couple of days!!! I still have a bruised check bone due to some lady who wanted all of the sweet corn tins in the shopping mall)
The above people especially, are the people we need to worry about. (Not whether you have enough cigarettes or booze in your pantry during the lock-down). They will get sick, they will spread the Covid.
Not all in SA have access to water. Not all have access to decent ablutions. Sanitisers have long ago disappeared, as well as the ingredients to make them at home. No masks, no gloves…
My personal opinion, as I have stated quite often for some time now, 3 weeks will not be enough to ‘curb the curve’. It might, hopefully, grant the Government a bit of a breather to put more tests etc. in place….possible infrastructures….more safety measures…..and to figure out how many people actually, already have contracted the Covid. And what to do.
The fact that pharmacies and some supermarkets, and Spazas, will be open during the lock-down for ESSENTIAL foods… (Times still tba) does not mean we can freely roam the streets and still do shopping. These places will be open only, in particular for the people who have real need therefore.
Use your brain cells, people!
some Pics taken today, Lock Down Day 1 -
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