Day 10 LockDown

5 April 2020

1585 cases
Recovered: 45
Deceased: 9

Sunday bloody Sunday. Our first double digits official lockdown day, and a new week ahead that we have to face several business challenges, both for us and for our clients.

I take my hat off to journalists, I myself worked as a journalist for years, and I know how tough the job is. But today I can only shake my head at some of the most irresponsible journalism ever. The biggest Afrikaans newspaper, Rapport, screamed in massive block letters on its front page that lockdown could be extended to four months. Really, Rapport, really? In a time where people are terrified as it is. If this was hard news based on an official announcement by our government – you know what, of course, go for it. But most of the article is idle speculation fuelled by theories on what ifs and this might happens.

I have never seen our Rand perform so dismally against the dollar. Today is a bit better than yesterday, with the graph straightening a bit and not just shooting upwards, but at R19.05 to the dollar, this spells a lot of uncertainty for our imports market. South Africa relies heavily on imported manufactured goods. And with Covid-19, we desperately need medical supplies and equipment from China to support our medical teams and support personnel.

There is also some really good news. Our 2019-2020 National Crime Statistics are yet to be officially released, however, during an analysis of crime from the first week of the lockdown, compared to the same period last year, this morning (5 April), Police Minister General Bheki Cele confirmed a very welcome decrease of serious crimes during lockdown:

• Murder cases have dropped from 326 to 94
• Rape cases have dropped from 699 to 101
• Cases of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm dropped from 2 673 to 456 case
• Trio crimes (which include carjackings, house robberies and business robberies) dropped from 8 853 to 2 098.
  There is also a very welcome decrease in lockdown-related complaints.

Amidst all this uncertainty, we had a pretty relaxed Sunday here in the city of George. Our streets have never been quieter. We started our day with the longest bath ever. Every single bath duck had to be bathed and squeezed and lined up. It is such a privilege that my children enjoy having a bath with their mommy. We pottered around in the kitchen, and I taught the world’s most amazing twins how to make Chicken Biryani and Naan bread. We danced to a track list on Spotify, and when we were done, the kitchen looked as if a flour factory exploded in there. But we had fun, and most of all, the twins are having fun. I do not know how much of all of this they will remember, but what they do remember, I want them to remember with fondness and nostalgia, not fear and uncertainty. I never know when the next last will show up, so I try to make each moment last. I don’t remember the last time I could pick up both of them at the same time, or the last time they asked for a night bottle. Or the last time I changed a nappy (not missing those, but just sayin’) My mommy heart cringes every time I see how much bigger they are getting.

There is a bit of unnecessary whininess on the book of the face about people posting lists of questions and playing games, and how frivolous all of this seems in the midst of all this disaster. I remember reading that when the Titanic sank, the band continued playing. People need distraction when their world collapses. What does it matter really what people do to distract themselves during this time? Some of the questionnaires and tags are fun, and we all get to know each other a bit more. My blog title for during this time and this series: Physical Distancing, Social Togetherness, is exactly about this. Yes, we need to physically maintain distance from each other, but with all the technology we have today, there is no reason to distance ourselves socially. We can chat online, message via several apps, converse on our social media platforms, share, learn, like, comment, debate – it doesn’t matter. Stay involved and be part of the online community. Besides, I’ll rather complete a questionnaire or post a mysterious phrase on my wall than read the absolute hogwash that is coming out of the keyboards of some of the sheeple out there.

This is seriously what Facebook sounds like at the moment. And I am over it. If you read my blog and you support the way out there conspiracies that are floating around the cyber social space at the moment, kindly get yourself out of my world. You become the people you associate with most, and I fear that my own intelligence might take a dive just by association.

Anyway, no more doom and gloom for me today. I have a date planned in my bed, with some hot cross buns and hot tea and a book (don’t judge). I conclude with a fun interview I had with the twins today – even I didn’t expect some of the answers. Perhaps try these questions with your kiddoes. See, the social media questionnaires aren’t all bad *wink, wink

** CHILD INTERVIEW **
Ask your child these questions and write their
EXACT response.

Interview with Alice & James