Out with the old, in with the new

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Out with the old, in with the new Volkswagen, piggybacking on the popularity of its R-Line kits on other models has released 50 units of a Beetle R-Line derivative.

The units will only be available at participating dealerships. These models can be differentiated by a redesigned front bumper, a larger central air inlet which is framed in the vehicle body colour and on the outer edges of the bumper finished in black trim.

Customers opting for the new limited edition R-Line version will acquire a Beetle that additionally has a further narrow air inlet between number plate and bonnet. Inside, the Beetle features a new trim element in gloss black that runs all around the car.

Also black on these versions is the central and lower part of the rear bumper, diffuser included. The exterior modifications are rounded off by a new optional paint finish, White Silver Metallic, standard Park Distance Control, the newly colour-coordinated 18” Ravenna Adamantium silver alloy wheels and smoked LED tail lights.

It is powered by a 1.4 TSI engine with 110kW and 250Nm. Volkswagen claims the fuel consumption on the new Beetle R-Line is 5.7l/100km. It is fitted with the firm's dual-clutch gearbox (DSG).

The Beetle R-Line has ten key standard-specification details namely:

18-inch 'Ravenna' alloy wheels, distinctive sporty exterior styling elements.

Bi-Xenon headlights with LED tail lights.

Composition Media with App-Connect.

Ambient lighting.

Black painted dashpad.

Exclusive R-line interior sport seats.

Pedals in brushed stainless steel.

Leather steering wheel with gloss black inserts.

R-Line logo.

Climatronic 2-zone air conditioning.

She is not cheap folks coming in at around R419 500 in South Africa but hey, with only 50 units for sale, maybe you want one?

In the meanwhile, South Africa's oldest Beetle has found a final resting place.

Volkswagen's automotive museum, AutoPavilion, has recently received an upgrade and one of its new displays is Jan the Beetle. Jan was built on 14 September 1949 in the original Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany.

In 1971 Volkswagen South Africa and Wheels magazine held a competition to find the oldest Beetle in South Africa. The winner was David Rubin of Middelburg, who received a brand-new 1300 Beetle in exchange for Jan the Beetle.

After discovery in 1971, the car went on display around South Africa before coming back home to rest at the Volkswagen factory in Uitenhage.

However for a number of years, no one paid attention to the classic car and it was left in storage as its condition had deteriorated. That changed when Jan the Beetle was brought to the attention of another very special Jan at Volkswagen, namely Jan Schiedek-Jacht, the Head of Product Engineering at VWSA.

Schiedek-Jacht, who is a classic car enthusiast and expert offered to give the Beetle a new lease on life. Soon, highly qualified engineers from Product Engineering at VWSA heard about Jan and offered to help.

Thomas Schaefer, chairman and managing director of VWSA: “The team under the leadership of Jan Schiedek-Jacht donated their spare time to fully restoring Jan and seven months later when a pristine looking car. I am humbled by the dedication, passion and love of our automotive heritage that this team has shown during the restoration of the Jan the Beetle.”



Restoring Jan

Jan was restored to its original condition and colour. As many original components as possible were repaired and restored, and only where required were new components sourced from special dealers in South Africa, Germany and the US.

According to VW: “Jan is now the jewel of the AutoPavilion vehicle collection. Thanks to his split rear windshield, Jan is the most desired little Beetle by collectors and enthusiasts alike. Jan proved that he is still fit for a jolly weekend drive after covering over 600 km to the George Motorshow early in February. This was his first drive after full restoration, exactly 67 years 4 months 10 days after he was built.”

The AutoPavilion is VWSA's Automotive Experience Centre and Museum. Each year over 30 000 car enthusiasts, school children, tourists, families and friends visit the AutoPavilion.



WHEELS24

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S.O.S. MayDay MayDay

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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S.O.S. MayDay MayDayHow not to get stuck on the side of the road There is no vehicle in the history of driving that has broken down in your home's driveway so here are some tips to not get stuck. We all take our cars for granted, and when they do break down, whether in rush-hour traffic on the way to work or in the middle of nowhere on a holiday weekend, it’s always a major hassle.

Have you ever had your car break down in your driveway? It just does not happen.

The Automobile Association in South Africa tells us there are seven leading causes of vehicle breakdowns - and five of them are electrical - so a little time spent learning what the various components do, what the warning signs are when they’re about to give trouble, and what to do about it, would be well spent.

The most common culprits are:

A flat or faulty battery, alternator faults, starter motor faults, clutch faults, spark plug problems, electrical faults and transmission problems.

Relax - it’s not rocket science.

THE BATTERY

The battery is simply a boxful of electrical energy; it powers the core systems that get a vehicle’s engine started - the starter motor, fuel pump and spark plugs - until the engine is up and running and can provide its own electrical power.

That means, however, that the battery has to power all the car’s electrical systems (such as the audio system, lights and aircon) when the engine isn’t running - and it can’t do that for very long.

Warning signs: Powdery deposits on the battery and its cables. Loose cables (Give them a tweak with your fingers - if they move at all they’re loose!).

Quick fix: Battery terminals are slightly tapered, so if you give them a tap with the heel of a shoe or something similar, they’ll tighten up slightly. It’s no substitute for tightening the pinchbolts properly, but it’ll get you home.

Low water level (if it’s not a maintenance-free sealed battery): If you can see the plates above the water level when you unscrew any one of the caps and look through the hole, top it up with distilled water, available at most supermarkets, garages or pharmacies.

If the dashboard light are dim before the car is started, or the engine turns over slowly when you turn the key, the battery is low on power - this could be because you’ve been parked and sitting in the car with the radio and aircon running, or because the battery is getting old and not holding its charge.

ALTERNATOR

The alternator uses engine power to make electrical current, which is used to operate the car’s systems and to charge the battery, ready for the next start.

Warning signs: Battery warning light - which means exactly what it says: the car is using battery current faster than the alternator is making it. Dim lights when the vehicle’s engine is running, or a relatively new battery that loses charge even when the vehicle is being driven. Loud chirping noises from the fan belt - that means either the belt is loose or the alternator doesn’t want to turn!

Tips: If you notice any of these symptoms, have the alternator checked by a professional; the alternator may need to be replaced, but it could be something as simple as worn-out brushes - in which case it can be repaired.

STARTER MOTOR

The starter motor is powered by the battery; it turns the engine over until it fires up and runs on its own.

Warning signs: If the car’s engine doesn’t turn over even with a fully charged battery, doesn’t always turn over, or you hear a rapid clicking noise from the engine and nothing else happens - or if the starter keeps turning after the engine has started.

Tips: Take the car to an auto electrician right away. It could something as minor as a starter relay, or the starter motor might need rebuilding. Since that’s quite labour-intensive, the usual practice is to fit a new or refurbished starter motor.

Major disaster warning: If the battery is fully charged and the starter motor strains like a constipated cow but still can’t turn the engine over, it’s not the starter, the engine may be about to seize. Stop trying to start it and call for back-up.

CLUTCH

The clutch connects and disconnects the driving force from the engine to the wheels.

Warning signs: Difficult or noisy gear changes. The car keeps moving forward even with the pedal fully depressed. The clutch takes up too softly or there’s a burning smell.

Tips: Keep your foot well away from the pedal while driving, accelerate very gently to avoid clutch slip, and don’t drive any further than you absolutely have to - a clutch that doesn’t release fully can do the gearbox and drivetrain a lot of harm. Get it to a mechanic pronto. Also, don't try to balance the clutch while waiting at a robot. It might save you a millisecond when he light turns green, but you'll lose that time and then some when your clutch packs up from overheating one day.

SPARK PLUGS

The spark plugs ignite the fuel in petrol engines.

Warning signs: Difficult starting, rough idling misfiring, lack of power or high fuel consumption.

Tips: Ensure that spark plugs are changed at the recommended intervals. Check that they are tightly screwed into their holes and that the leads (cables) to them fit firmly onto the tops of the plugs.

Don’t do these checks while the engine is running. Spark plugs operate at about 30 000 volts; a shock from a spark-plug will lend entirely new meaning to the term ‘wake-up call'.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Your car’s electrical system is an interconnected network that powers everything from the windscreen wipers and electric windows to the fuel pump and safety systems.

Warning signs: A failure of one or more of the critical systems: lights, the instrument panel, or windscreen wipers.

Tips: Modern cars have a multi-pin connector for a cable to a diagnostic computer, which will quickly tell the mechanic if there is an electrical fault and, within limits, what’s wrong.

If your car predates the computer era, check everything electrical - from the wipers to the lights (inside and out) to the heater, once a month, at the same time when you check the battery. If something doesn’t work, have it checked out by an auto electrician.

TRANSMISSION

The transmission varies the delivery of power from the engine to the wheels by means of gears.

Warning signs: Struggling to engage certain gears, or if the car jumps out of gear into neutral by itself. If the car hesitates before moving when you release the clutch and then jumps forward, or if you hear grinding or rattling noises from the gearbox, see oil on the ground where the car has been standing, or feel a lot of heat coming from the gearbox area.

Tips: If you experience any of these, don’t try to “drive through it” – this is a purely mechanical problem and will rapidly get worse, or damage other components such as the engine, clutch and differential if you drive the car. Call for back-up and get it towed in - it will probably be cheaper in the long run.

IOL Motoring

S is for sexy

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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S is for sexy Mercedes-Benz South Africa confirmed the new S-Class will enter the market in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The new model features new engines, with a range with a series of new technologies for electrification of the powertrain says Mercedes.

There are advancements in autonomous driving features as well as changes inside the cabin including the new 'energising comfort control' (more on that later).

Three new engines will be available: diesel (S400d) and petrol (S450) variants of six-cylinder in-line engines and a new V8 biturbo petrol engine (S560). Mercedes is planning a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of about 50km.

New technology for the S-Class in the form of a 48 volt Integrated Starter Generator and the electric booster compressor make their world debut.

The new car will also feature the optional energising comfort control which links various on-board comfort systems together, e.g. climate control, ambience lighting, massage and fragrance functions, and allows customers to configure a specific wellness set-up to suit their mood or need. Mercedes says this enhances physical comfort and performance on the road.

Inside, the S-Class has touch-sensitive Touch Control buttons in the steering wheel. They respond to swiping motions like the screen of a smartphone. They enable the driver to control the entire infotainment system without having to take their hands off the steering wheel.

The infotainment system can also be operated via the touchpad with controller in the centre console and by linguatronic voice control.

And for the ultimate in luxury, it's now possible to use voice control to operate the air conditioning and seat heating/ventilation, interior lighting (ambience lighting, reading lights, lighting in the rear), fragrance, seat massage function and head-up display.



Engines

Mercedes says they've updated their driver assistance systems, here are a list of the changes below:

*Active Distance Control distronic uses substantially more map and navigation data, can support the driver based on the route, and conveniently adjusts the vehicle speed. Active Speed Limit Assist automatically adopts recognised speed limits as a new set speed for Active Distance Control distronic.

*Steering Assist has been noticeably improved across its entire performance range, resulting in markedly enhanced customer benefits.

*Active Lane Changing Assist has been considerably upgraded. Now nudging the indicator stalk is all it takes to initiate a lane change. This lane change is executed within the next ten seconds, and is indicated in the instrument cluster with the appropriate visual display if the vehicle sensor system does not detect any vehicles in the relevant safety zone, which the driver might have missed. The system is available in certain countries depending on traffic regulations. (Later introduction for SA)

*Active Emergency Stop Assist brakes the vehicle to a stop when Active Steering Assist is engaged and the system recognises that the driver is not intervening in the driving process on a sustained basis. Following vehicles in a tailback: In stop and go traffic on motorways and similar roads, stops of up to 30 seconds are now possible, during which time the S-Class starts moving again automatically and follows the traffic ahead (in conjunction Active Parking Assist).

*Traffic Sign Assist: Posted speed limits and any potential no-overtaking signs are displayed for the current section of the route through image recognition and information from the digital road map of the navigation system.

WHEELS24

Elongo lyomauyelele nomakwatathano gopautekinika tali ende kashona mooskola

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Elongo lyomauyelele nomakwatathano gopautekinika tali ende kashona mooskolaOoskola kadhi na ookompiuta dha gwana Otaku ningwa oonkambadhala dhokuyambulapo uunongo womauyelele nomakwatathano guutekinika mooskola dhomoshilongo, nonando oonkambadhala dhoka odha taalela omashongo. Ominista yElongo oya koleke kutya omulandu gwokuyambulapo omauyelele nomakwatathano gopautekinika mooskola dhomoNamibia otagu ende kashona ihe okwa popi kutya otaku ningwa oonkambadhala opo ku lundululwe onkalo ndjoka, ko kwaadhike omalalakano gegandjo lyuunongo mboka mokati kaanaskola.

Uuyelele mboka owa gandjwa kOminista yElongo, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa pethimbo a gandja oshipopiwa she shopashigwana kombinga yonkalo yelongo moshilongo oshiwike sha piti.

Aandungiki naatseyinawa yoompito dhiilonga oya kunkilile kutya uunongo nontseyo yomauyelele nomakwatathano gopautekinika oya pumbiwa mokumona iilonga oshowo pankalamwenyo, moomvula dhongashiingeyi.

“Aaniilonga ayehe otaya pumbiwa ya kale notseyo. Kaye shi owala aaniilonga ihe nomonkalathano ya kehe esiku uunongo mboka owa pumbiwa. Uuministeli wiikwameni oshowo uundjolowele otawu longitha omakwatathano gopautekinika onkene osha pumbiwa noonkondo uuministeli welongo wu dheule aanaskola moshikondo shoka,” Leo Svotwa, omukuluntuskola gwoTanben College ta ti.

Omukomeho gwoJobs Unlimited, Gerhard Jansen okwa zimine kutya kehe oompito yiilonga otayi pula ontseyo yokompiuta. Iilonga kehe naambyoka ino pumbwa okukala wa kuutumba komeho gokompiuta kehe esiku otayi pumbwa opo wu kale wu na ontseyo yeuveko lyopetameko lyokompiuta.”

Okwa popi kutya aakongi yiilonga mboka kaye na ontseyo yokompiuta otaya mono iihuna mokukonga iilonga.

Jansen okwa popi kutya mokukwashilipaleka egandjo lyuunongo mboka mooskola, naku kwashilipalekwe woo kutya aanaskola inaya longwa ooprogramma ndhoka oonkulu ano ihadhi longithwa we.

Minista okwa popi kutya nonando oshikondo otashi kondjo megandjo lyuunongo mboka, oye na elago molwaashoka konyala aakuthimbinga ayehe otaya kondjo mokuyambidhidha oshiyetwa po shoka.

Colette Rieckert, omukomeho gwoWindhoek Gymnasium, okwa popi kutya uunongo wokompiuta ngashiingeyi owafa owala uunongo welaka, na okwa gwedha po kutya kehe iilonga omuntu ta longo ihe oku na uunongo wokompiuta nena oku na ompito onene yuuwanawa.

Hanse-Himarwa okwa popi mEtitano kutya ooskola ndhoka dhi na iilongitho yomauyele nomakwatathano gopautekinika otadhi longo nuudhigu mokugandja uunongo mboka kaanaskola .

Shimwe shomwaamboka otayi etitha uupyakadhi nomukundu ngoka, ompumbwe yaalongi yadheuka moshilongwa shoka.

Omunambelewa omukomeho gwelongo lyoICT literacy and information and communications moNational for Educational Development (NIED), Olga Maartens okwa popi kutya omukundu gumwe otagu etithwa kompumbwe yookompiuta dha gwana mooskola.

Okwa popi kutya okupitila miilonga ye mbyoka yi li okugandja omadheulo miikwautekinika nomauyelele kaalongiskola moshilongo ashihe, oyendji itaya nyeyeta kombinga yompumbwe yuunongo ihe ompumbwe yiikwathitho yelongo moshilongwa shoka mooskola.

Okwa popi kutya nonando ongaaka ope na omilandu dhoka dha tulwa miilonga dha nuninwa okukandulapo omukundu ngoka.

Okwa popi kutya olundji aalongiskola otaya longo oshindji nonando ope na ompumbwe yiikwathitholongo, na otaya tsuwa omukumo opo ya konge omayele nomadhilaadhilo mokulongitha ookompiuta ndhoka nonando oonshona na itadhi gwana mooskola.

Pahapu dhe, aalongi otaya vulu okulongitha oongodhi dhopeke, ndhoka oyendji pamwe naanaskola ye na nale onga omukalo gwokulonga oshilongwa shoka.

Okwa popi kutya aalongi otaya vulu okulongitha oongodhi moshilongwa shoka nonando aanaskola inaya pitikwa okuya noongodhi dhawo dhopeke kooskola.

Maartens okwa popi kutya uuministeli otawu gandja woo iigongiilonga yi na sha nuunongo womauyelele nomakwatathano gopautekinika kaalongiskola pandondo yopaitopolwa, nokugandja omakwatho kaalongi nooskola miikumungu ya guma elongo lyomauyelele nomakwattahano gopautekinika.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Egandjo lyomboloha kaazaizai moNamibia lya nyanwa

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Egandjo lyomboloha kaazaizai moNamibia lya nyanwaNamibia ota nyengwa okuyoolola pokati kiipotha iinene naambyoka iishona Aatseyinawa yiikwaveta oya popi kutya omulandu ngoka tagu longithwa mokugandja gwomboloha miipotha iinene moshilongo ogwa pumbwa okutalululwa opo gweendele pamwe nomalunduluko muuyuni. Omilandu dhomboloha ndjoka ya pewa aatamanekwa moshipotha oshinene moshilongo sheyando lyokufuta iishoshela yepangelo neholeko lyoonzo dhiiyemo shongushu yoobiliyona 3.5 odha nyanwa komunambelewa gwombudsman, John Walters, oshowo omutseyinawa gwopaveta.

Shoka osha landula sho omutamenakewa gumwe a yi ontuku oshowo gumwe ngoka a hulithile moChina.

Omupanguli mompangu yaMangestrata gwaVenduka, oshiwike sha piti okwa tseyithilwa eso lya, Zhu Honggang, gumwe gwomaatamanekwa mboka ya tulwa tango miipandeko moshipotha shoka, na okwa li pondje yomboloha koshimaliwa shooN$500 000. Ompangu oya gandja woo elombwelo lyetulo miipandeko lyaJinrong Huang, ngoka a ndopa okuholoka mompangu oshiwike sha piti, onga oshizemo sho a ndopa okuholoka mompangu iimaliwa ye yomboloha mbyoka a li a futu yoomiliyona 1.5 oya ningipo yepangelo.

Natango ina monika, kwiikwatelelwa kOpolisi yaNamibia.

Omutseyinawa gwekotampango, Nico Horn okwa popi kutya oshikondo shuuyuki shaNamibia natango oshi li monkulu yonale na itashi vulu okuyoolola pokati kiipotha iinene naambyoka iishona.

“Ondi wete kutya uupyakadhi uunene omukalo hagu longithwa mokugandja omboloha. Ngee owa tala koobiliyona 3.5, omboloha yomiliyona yimwe kayi shi sha. Itandi itaala kutya ngoka omulandu gu li pombanda.”

Okwa popi kutya Namibia okwa pumbwa okutula miilonga omulandu omupe omolwa aazaizai mboka taya etitha woo ompito yiipotha iinene yiikengelela.

Okwa popi kutya monakuziwa okwa li ihaku gandjwa unene oomboloha kaazaizai omolwa uutile kutya otaya vulu okuya ontuku na okwa gandjwa oomilandu dhi li pombanda ngaashi ihaya pitikwa okunana iimaliwa na ohaya ilopota kopolisi iikando iyali mesiku opo kaya vule okuya momalweendo.

Okwa ningile omapulo kutya Namiba ota vulu ngiini okukondolola omikanda dhomalweendo dhaazaizai.

Aachina yahamano oya taalela epangulo moshipotha shoka mwa kwatelwa omunangeshefa atseyika nawa, Jack Huang.

Omunangeshefa gwomOmbaye, Laurentius Julius oye owala OmuNamibia a tulwa miipandeko moshipotha shoka.

AaChina mboka sho ya pewa omboloha oya pewa opo ya kale taya ilopota kopolisi iikando iyali moshiwike, Omaandaha nEtitano, nuuna yahala okuya momalweendo oye na okutseyithila omunambelewa omukonaakoni gwoshipotha shawo.

Omunambelewa gwOmbudsman Walters okwa pula kutya omolwashike aazaizai taya pewa omboloha omanga mboka taya fekelwa AaNamibia ngaashi Kai Rust taya tindilwa omboloha. Rust okwa tulwa miipandeko momasiku 27 gaJanuari omvula ya piti, sha landula eumbo lyondjembo ndyoka lya etitha eso lyomuntu ta feekelelwa uukongo mofaalama yawo. Opo owala a pewa ombooloha omathimbo ga piti.

“Omolwashike to gandja omboloha kaazaizai ihe ino hala okugandja omboloha kAaNamibia mboka yeli maandjawo,”

Walters a pula.

Ominista yUuyuki, Albert Kawana okwa popi kutya omboloha inayi talika ko onga omukalo gwokugandja omageelo, nonando okwa zimine kutya oompangu nadhi endele pamwe nomalunduluko.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Volkswagen to sponsor Euro 2020 cup

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Volkswagen to sponsor Euro 2020 cup German carmaker Volkswagen has won a deal to become the new mobility partner of the EURO 2020 soccer championship, which it said it would use to showcase its new I.D. electric car model.

Volkswagen is banking on the popularity of soccer as it seeks to restore its image following the “dieselgate” emissions test cheating scandal and makes a strategic shift towards electric cars.

Last month, it said it would become the biggest commercial sponsor of Germany's national soccer team, replacing luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz after 45 years.

At the European soccer championship, it succeeds Hyundai , whose cars and buses shuttled championship officials and VIP guests during the EURO 2016 held in France.

For the tournament's 60th anniversary, organisers have chosen a controversial format by which 13 cities across the continent, rather than only one or two countries, will host matches.

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ESPN turns to live streaming

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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ESPN turns to live streamingUp to 10 000 live sporting events on offer for subscribers ESPN's streaming service is expected to go live in 2019 a statement issued by the corporation said. Walt Disney Co., once again shaking up the media industry, says it will stop selling movies to Netflix Inc. and begin offering ESPN sports programming and family films directly to consumers via two new streaming services.

Disney's online entertainment service will begin in 2019, the Burbank, California-based company said Tuesday in a statement.

Starting next year, an ESPN online service, which the company had said was in the works, will feature 10 000 live events a year, including major league baseball, hockey, soccer and tennis, as well as college sports.

Investors didn't have to look far to find out why Disney suddenly chose to upend its business.

The company reported a rare drop in revenue and profit, from falling ad sales at ESPN and a decline at the film division.

The moves show how seriously CEO Bob Iger views the threat from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon.com Inc. and their impact on conventional pay-TV.

“Our direct-to-consumer services mark an entirely new growth strategy for the company, one that takes advantage of the incredible opportunity that changing technology provides us to leverage the strength of our great brands,” Iger said in the statement.

The ability to stream some of Disney's most valuable sports and films without a cable television subscription shows how rapidly the business is changing.

The new Disney entertainment service will feature Disney films, as well as new programmes and content from the company's Disney Channel library. Those will include movies from the Disney studios and Pixar, but not Marvel or Lucasfilm, the producer of 'Star Wars'.





MY BROADBAND

Brexit desirable for UK banking sector

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Brexit desirable for UK banking sector The Bank of England says a transition period after Britain leaves the European Union would give banks more time to make orderly changes as Brexit poses risks to financial stability.

With UK due to leave the bloc in March 2019, the BoE's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) said it faces heavy demands from Brexit fallout on banks and insurers.

BoE deputy governor and PRA chief executive Sam Woods said “some form of implementation period is desirable” between Britain leaving the bloc and start of new trading terms to “give UK and EU firms” more time to make necessary changes.

But he stopped short of saying what sort of transition he wanted in a reply to Nicky Morgan, new chair of parliament's Treasury Select Committee, who asked him this month for his views on the design of such a period.

The UK government has not presented the EU with any firm request for a transition period as it still seeks internal consensus.

UK-based firms are not waiting for clarity and are announcing new hubs in the EU27 to be sure of serving customers there after March 2019, and avoid the destabilising ruptures in financial links the BoE fears.

Woods had asked banks to spell out how they would cope in particular with a “hard” Brexit where Britain crashes out of the EU with no transition or trading deal.

In a letter to Morgan made public on Wednesday, he said 401 responses were received, which revealed “significant issues for many firms” and the BoE will reach a view on the plans in the autumn.

The submissions provided “further evidence” of risks the BoE had already identified, specifically relating to the continued servicing and performance of existing contracts and restriction on data transfers.

There could be a sharp rise in the number of insurance policies shifted from one country to another, a switch that involves the courts, he said.

“Re-structuring by firms to mitigate risks to their business will in general increase complexity.” Dislocation and fragmentation of markets could bump up costs and cut activity.

The BoE will need to ensure that supervising firms with links between the EU and a Britain outside the bloc, is still doable, he added.

The PRA faces having to authorise and supervise a significant number of additional firms, which could place a material extra burden on resources, Woods said.

London is home to branches of banks from continental Europe and they face having to become subsidiaries, meaning they would be directly supervised by the PRA.

Woods said the issues set out in his response to Morgan “pose a material risk” to the PRA's objectives as a supervisor, and that this work is a top priority. “It is incumbent on us to manage this burden but we may have to make some difficult prioritisation decisions in order to accommodate it,” Woods said.

NAMPA/REUTERS

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Beware of Sanlam loan scam

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Beware of Sanlam loan scam A new scam has surfaced in which fraudsters are offering Sanlam personal loans up to the value of N$1 million. The insurance company has denied the existence of such a loan scheme.

“Sanlam has taken note of a scam alleging that Sanlam is now offering personal loans to the public. We at Sanlam wish to distance ourselves from this communiqué as it did not originate from any of our offices.

“Sanlam does not offer the [purported] 'Sanlam Loan' and the communiqué, which appears to have originated from South Africa but is currently circulating in Namibia, is inaccurate and untrue,” it said in a statement. According to Sanlam, prospective customers are being made to believe that they can apply via email, telephone or fax. “The scam referred to offers of, among others, personal loans of up to R250 000 and home loans of up to N$1 000 000. The scam, which appears in the form of a written letter, requests interested applicants to apply for their loans either by telephone, email or fax while insisting that no one-on-one communication is required,” Sanlam said.

“Sanlam wishes to take this opportunity to warm all current and potential clients about this scam. If you receive a letter, telephone call, email or fax relating to the alleged 'Sanlam Loan', please refrain from providing any personal information and contact the Sanlam Marketing Department on: +264 61 294 7607 or +264 16 294 7528 or email marketing@sanlam.com.na.”

Merging business and the environment

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Merging business and the environmentGreen enterprise development paves the way Start-ups and established business are now being encouraged to incorporate environmentally friendly business practices. Given Namibia's current challenges with slow economic growth and a high unemployment rate, especially among the youth, green enterprise development offers the country an opportunity to attain its goals set out in the Fifth National Development Plan and Vision 2030.

Green businesses face many challenges such as a lack of education and awareness on the importance of green enterprises in an economy like Namibia's, fewer market opportunities as consumers are not informed about the value of their products, and insufficient business development opportunities tailored to their needs as social entrepreneurs.

A number of institutions and companies aim to address the challenges faced at these cusps of youth unemployment, unsustainable economic growth and a lack of enterprise development.

One such partnership is between the Hanns Seidel Foundation Namibia (HSF) Environmental Awareness and Climate Change Project and the Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII) at the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) who jointly offer the Eco-Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship Programme.

The Eco-Entrepreneur programme seeks to empower and encourage upcoming Namibian entrepreneurs to venture into innovative eco-businesses that can address social, economic and environmental challenges and contribute to the realisation of a Green Economy in Namibia.

The programme is comprised of workshops, mentorship sessions, field trip excursions and information events. The programme has trained over 100 entrepreneurs who will also be eligible for the 'Best Eco-entrepreneurship among Business start-ups' Award of the Sustainable Development Awards 2017.

The Awards were launched on 7 July 2017 with the Sustainable Development Advisory Council (SDAC), the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF), the Hanns Seidel Foundation Namibia, Namibia Media Holdings (NMH), Nedbank Namibia, Agribank and the Namibia Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST).

As a main partner in the Eco-Entrepreneur Training and Mentorship Programme and a Namibian academic institution making great strides for innovation, research and development, NUST has gone a step further to introduce an Institutional Sustainability Strategy under which staff members and students have taken the 'Sustainability Pledge' which aims to green university offices.

Furthermore, NUST through the NBII is the Namibian partner in the multilateral partnership (South Africa, Zambia and Switzerland) in which entrepreneurs addressing the challenges of sanitation, water and resource management received training in conceptualising their business ideas. Apart from the training received, the project offered opportunities for matchmaking and innovation-based business brokering process between European and Namibian businesses.

The official media partner for the Sustainable Development Awards in 2017 is the Namibia Media Holdings Group of Companies (NMH). NMH subscribes to and is on the forefront of living the values of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the Government of the Republic of Namibia. NMH is an example to other members of the Namibian private sector of the impact of a green business model for profitability and social responsibility.

Paving the way for conservation research is the Nedbank Go Green Fund, which is implemented in partnership with the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). The Fund is aimed at supporting individuals and organisations working towards a more sustainable future. The Fund promotes the sustainable use of natural resources, enhances the understanding of indigenous species and natural ecosystems, and disseminates information on environmental issues and parameters among communities.

Some of the projects to benefit from the fund in recent years include the Khomas Environmental Education Programme (KEEP), Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and the Namibian Dolphin Project (NDP).

STAFF REPORTER

SA rating intact on Zuma vote

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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SA rating intact on Zuma votePowerCom to visit stakeholders Political risks remain elevated though, carrying risks for the South African economy, says the S&P Global ratings agency. South African President Jacob Zuma's survival in a parliamentary no-confidence vote will not impact the country's downgrade-threatened credit rating, the S&P Global agency said yesterday.

Zuma survived a no-confidence motion against him in on Tuesday by winning 198 votes to the opposition's 177 votes as African National Congress lawmakers rallied to his support, though some members did vote against him.

“Failure of no-confidence vote means status quo remains,” S&P's primary analyst for South Africa Gardner Rusike told Reuters.

“The situation remains within our base-case scenario which is desirable.”

Rusike said, however, that political risks remain elevated, carrying risks for the South African economy.

The sizable number of ANC parliament members voting with the opposition was “unexpected” and showed divisions within the party, Rusike said. That could impact the December 2017 ANC elective conference and perhaps even national elections in 2019.

Rusike also said a proposed near $1 billion bailout of South Africa's national airline, South Africa Airways, was unlikely to cause a further rating downgrade.

“This bailout (South African Airways) is taken into account at the level of moderate contingent liabilities,” he said.

A key issue, especially for South Africa's local currency debt rating, is the recent talk about nationalising the country's respected central bank.

Local South African debt still carries an investment grade rank and loss of this could see more than $10 billion flee the country's rand-denominated debt markets

“We do believe that South Africa has a deep domestic debt market and we also believe the central bank is independent and has credibility to implement monetary policy, as well the government's fiscal flexibility.”

“If either of these factors were to weaken, that is what could potentially result in equalising the foreign currency rating and the local currency rating,” Rusike said.

“We do believe that it may not be implemented either in the near term or the medium-term.”

NAMPA/REUTERS

PowerCom to visit stakeholders

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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PowerCom to visit stakeholders PowerCom is to hold consultative meetings in various regions of the country to talk to people on whose land its infrastructure is installed, CEO Alisa Amupolo said this week.

According to her, the visit is necessitated by the wide network of close to 300 PowerCom towers.

As part of the visit, PowerCom will talk to land owners to explain the purpose of PowerCom and why it has to install towers on their land to improve the communication network.

“PowerCom has a vast ecosystem and behind each of the 300 towers under our portfolio. There are ordinary men and women deep down at grassroots level adding value in a form of land lease to construct our towers and at the same time protecting the assets.

“It is our endeavour to continue leveraging on these economic opportunities by engaging our community-based stakeholder continuously and unlocking further opportunities at a right size and price, it being a key sustainability element in our business model.”

Explaining the role of PowerCom, Amupolo said towers were necessary to host network antennas, broadcasting dishes and other equipment that facilitates communication transmission. According to her, the towers are generally hosted in communal and commercial farm areas, grazing areas and crop fields as well as public and private institution rooftops and surroundings.

“Essentially, the infrastructure is strategically located putting into consideration the vegetation and terrain amongst others to optimise network coverage for our clients. PowerCom's stakeholders closer to the towers tend to have premium experience and enjoy a robust network in terms of signal strengths and quality,” Amupolo said.

“In some cases, landowners become deceased however no succession follows through in a form of an estate or a new landowner. The accounts subsequently become inactive and the compensation goes in a hiatus temporarily, resulting in loss of income which many of our stakeholders depends on at community level,” Amupolo explained.

“PowerCom is therefore calling on landowners to update their contract information, accounts number and ownership proof in events of succession, ahead of the visit,” she said.

According to Amupolo, PowerCom will individually visit each stakeholder and educate them in a native language where necessary on their rights and obligations.

At same time, they will inform stakeholders and landowners on new developments since the company ceased to trade as a mobile operator and commenced its operations as an infrastructure entity.

PowerCom provides information communication technology infrastructure in the form of telecommunications towers countrywide, which service a wide array of players in the communications industry ranging from mobile operators, television and radio broadcasters.

Odinga cries foul

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Odinga cries foulRiot police deployed in opposition stronghold As feared by many, riot police were yesterday deployed in Kenya as Odinga refused to accept the results and his supporters turned violent. President Uhuru Kenyatta appeared headed for re-election Wednesday but his rival Raila Odinga claimed a massive hacking attack had manipulated results, ratcheting up tensions in opposition strongholds.

Police engaged in running battles with a few hundred protesters in Odinga's bastion Kisumu in western Kenya, firing tear gas as his supporters set tyres alight. Burning barricades also went up in Nairobi's Mathare slum, AFP reporters said.

With ballots from 94% of polling stations counted by mid-morning when the violence erupted, electoral commission (IEBC) results showed Kenyatta leading with 54.4% of the over 14 million ballots tallied against Odinga's 44.7%.

“These results are fake, it is a sham. They cannot be credible,” Odinga told a press conference in the early hours of yesterday morning as partial results fell quickly via an electronic tallying system aimed at preventing fraud. His accusations, and the reaction from his supporters again raised the spectre of electoral violence in Kenya, still traumatised by the memory of bloody post-poll clashes a decade ago which left 1 100 dead and 600 000 displaced.

Odinga later in the morning detailed accusations of a massive hacking attack on the electronic system, saying hackers had gained entry to the system using the identity of top IT official Chris Msando, who was found murdered and tortured late last month. “This is an attack on our democracy. The 2017 general election was a fraud,” said Odinga, claiming detailed evidence of the hacker's movements. He would not say how he got the information, as he wanted to “protect his source”.

Odinga claimed the IEBC had not provided the scanned forms meant to accompany the results.

The 72-year-old, who is making his fourth bid for the presidency as the flagbearer for the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, accused his rivals of stealing victory from him through rigging in 2007 and in 2013.

“You can only cheat a people for so long,” he said. IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati insisted the poll was “free and fair” and urged Kenyans to await the original forms backing up the results being streamed through electronically, to verify the figures seen on their public website.

“As a commission we shall carry out investigations to establish whether or not the (hacking) claims are true,” he said. Odinga urged his supporters to “remain calm as we look deep into this matter.” But he added: “I don't control the people.”

As his speech ended scores of supporters gathered at a roundabout in Kisumu and began burning tyres, while others gathered in a Nairobi slum under heavy police presence.

“If Raila is not president, we can't have peace,” one Kisumu protester told AFP shortly before tear gas sent the crowd running.

Resident Geoffery Omondi, 22 shook his head as protesters lit a new fire nearby. “It is very painful to watch. The problem is the IEBC who did not announce results well.”

Local media urged the losers to peacefully accept the result and turn to the justice system with their grievances. “The voters, too, must await the results while acknowledging that their favourite candidate can actually lose. It is a critical measure of democracy that there will be winners and losers,” read an editorial in the Daily Nation newspaper.

The normally traffic-choked streets of Nairobi were largely deserted Wednesday, and some businesses remained closed as the country held its breath over the results.

The contest between Odinga and Kenyatta was seen by pollsters as too close to call ahead of the vote.

It is the second time the two men have faced off in a presidential election, a dynastic rivalry that has lasted more than half a century since their fathers Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Odinga went from allies in the struggle for independence to bitter rivals.

The men belong to two of Kenya's main ethnic groups, Kenyatta from the Kikuyu, the largest, and Odinga from the Luo.

Both had secured formidable alliances with other influential communities in Kenya, where voting takes place largely along tribal lines.

In 2013 Kenyatta won by 800 000 votes. Kenyatta, 55, is credited with overseeing steady economic growth of more than 5%. However food prices have soared under his watch and several major corruption scandals broke out in his first term.

Raphael Tuju, secretary-general of Kenyatta's Jubilee party, shrugged off Odinga's fraud charge.

“I don't expect anything else from NASA,” he said.

On Tuesday, Kenyatta urged Odinga to accept the result should he lose.

“I also want to say that if I lose, I will accept the will of the people,” Kenyatta said after voting.

NAMPA/AFP

Dissolve parly says Maimane

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Dissolve parly says Maimane Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane has called for the dissolution of the National Assembly following a failed motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.

“Parliament should be dissolved,” Maimane told journalists at a press briefing on Wednesday.

He said the official opposition will table a motion to dissolve Parliament on Thursday.

President Jacob Zuma has nothing to celebrate after he survived the eighth motion of no confidence in him, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane said on Tuesday evening.

“He is mortally wounded, and his party is in tatters. Tonight's result, despite the slender victory, signals the death of the ANC,” Maimane said in a statement shortly after the unsuccessful motion in the National Assembly.

“This is not the end for our young democracy - it's simply the end of the ANC.”

Some 198 MPs voted against a motion of no confidence in Zuma on Tuesday evening, 177 MPs voted in favour of the motion and nine MPs abstained.

Around 30 ANC MPs are believed to have voted against the party line and in favour of the motion. Some 50 ANC MPs were needed to vote in favour of the motion for it to succeed.

Maimane said the outcome reveals that the ANC is “totally divided against itself”.

“[It] illustrates what South Africans already know; the ANC cannot self-correct. The ANC still supports Zuma because he is not an anomaly within the ANC, he is the norm.”

The official opposition was looking forward to seeing Zuma in the Supreme Court of Appeals in September seeking to reinstate 783 charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering against him, Maimane said.

He pleaded with South Africans not to lose hope as the unsuccessful motion is “not the end for our young democracy”.

“[This] should serve as motivation to South Africans to organise, get involved and help build a new government in 2019. That is the only way we can achieve the new beginning we need.”

News24

Shot of the day

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Shot of the day DISPLACED: A young girl with a pot on her head poses with other children at one of the Internally-Displaced People (IDP) camps Gwoza, north-eastern Nigeria. Boko Haram seized Gwoza in July 2014, making it the headquarters of their so-called caliphate. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

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Bail laws must be fair

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Bail laws must be fair There has been a great deal of discussion and debate regarding the country's justice system, especially when it comes to high-profile cases, which are in most cases drawn-out. The recent debate has been on whether Namibians with little money and influence are being failed by the country's justice system when compared to foreign suspects and the well-connected elite. We have had cases of less privileged Namibians, implicated in what can only be considered as less serious crimes, struggling to obtain bail and as a result remanded in custody for longer periods waiting for their cases to be heard. We are pointing it out from the onset that it is not our intention to criticise and question the work of the judiciary and its presiding officers. As an independent organ of the government, the judiciary plays an important role as the guardian of the constitution of the republic. No democracy can efficiently function without the judiciary. However, some decisions decided in Namibian courts invite critical scrutiny, especially when it comes to the bail laws of our country. Commentators have pointed out that there are plenty of risks in our bail laws which urgently need to be addressed. With specific emphasis on the N$3.5 billion tax evasion, fraud and money-laundering case before the Windhoek Magistrate's Court, experts are convinced that the suspects are getting it easy when it comes to bail conditions. It is true that the courts have a duty to obey the principle of presumption of innocence of the accused person at least until proven guilty, as well as the view that bail should not be viewed as part of the suspect's punishment. However, we feel that there are marked inconsistencies impacting the fair administration of bail measures, including fears that key suspects are likely to abscond without a trace because of soft bail conditions. The public must have confidence in the administration of justice and this should be complemented by fair and consistent decisions all the time. It is up to the courts to impose stringent conditions for bail when there is justification for it. We are not asking for bail laws that undermine fundamental human rights, all we want is fairness.

Otji cops accused of negligence as man dies

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Otji cops accused of negligence as man dies The Namibian police in Otjiwarongo has been accused of negligence after a man was stoned to death in the DRC informal settlement in the early hours of Tuesday morning, despite calls to the police station.

Resident Josef Dimbulukweni, who claims to have witnessed the incident, told Nampa he saw five men armed with stones attack another in the street opposite his house. Dimbulukweni said he decided to remain indoors and witnessed the attack through the window shortly after 01:00.

“I then called the police charge office on their charge office landline number where I was told that there was no car to attend to the scene,” said Dimbulukweni adding the deceased could have been saved if the police responded.

Another aggrieved community member, Selma David told Nampa she also decided to remain indoors when she witnessed the attack by the young men.

David said she does not know the deceased or attackers.

“We were all sleeping and suddenly I heard him screaming for help. When I looked through a window, I saw five young men armed with stones attacking him while he lay hopelessly on the ground.”

She said the man was attacked with stones, sticks and beer bottles until he lay quietly on the ground.

David said she made several phone calls to the police charge office and a woman police officer kept telling her there was no transport at the station for them to dispatch officers.

Both David and Dimbulukweni expressed disappointment in NamPol and the Otjiwarongo police station, calling the law enforcement agency “weak” as they only arrived at the scene at 06:00.

Nampa arrived at the scene shortly after the police, who were then cordoning off the scene and were visible with four distinctly marked police vehicles. There were also three unmarked police vehicles.

Contacted for comment at his office, the Otjozondjupa police's regional commander Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze acknowledged receiving the report of a man who was killed and confirmed that he was informed of numerous phone calls to the police station by community members in this regard.

He said the deceased's body was found naked on the ground and was removed by the police.

Tjiveze described the body as swollen and bruised, which prompts suspicions of assault.

“We are now busy investigating two cases, one for murder and another one for failing to attend to a crime scene by police officers,” he said.

The visibly agitated commander said the police have enough vehicles in the region to attend to all crime reports.

He then promised to deal with the police officer(s) on duty at the time of the numerous phone calls once a thorough investigation and report were submitted to his office.

NAMPA

Fire consumes shacks, homestead

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Fire consumes shacks, homestead A devastating fire gutted the shacks of 10 families in Walvis Bay while police suspect an angry husband committed arson and destroyed an entire homestead, including a shebeen, on Tuesday.

In another case reported by police, an 11-year-old girl was raped near a cuca shop and two young children, a seven-year-old boy and an 11-year old girl were admitted to hospital after they were both hit by cars while crossing a road.

The shack fire on Monday afternoon broke out at a house in Tutaleni, in Walvis Bay, and “10 shacks were totally destroyed by the fire” the Namibian police said.

The police say they suspect an illegal electrical connection was the cause of the fire, although investigations continue.

A statement from Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu on the fire noted that all of the property and items stored in the shacks were burnt beyond recognition.

No injuries were reported and investigations continue, police confirmed.

The Namibian police are also investigating a case of arson, where they suspect a fire which consumed an entire homestead in the Kavango West Region, including a shebeen and a warehouse, was intentionally set by a suspect after a fight with his wife over house keys.

The police report noted that the fire destroyed a homestead in Mavanze village, in the Kavango West Region.

“It is alleged that the suspect intentionally set the homestead of the complainant on fire, after he had a misunderstanding with his wife over the house keys which were left at the complainant's residence without his knowledge.”

The police say the wife, whose name is not made public, sustained a head injury during the fight, and that the fire destroyed, among other things, a Toyota Tazz, a fully stocked food storage room, two bedrooms containing various belongings and documentation, and an electrical cable room.

The police reported that a “fully packed shebeen” was also consumed as well as a “shebeen warehouse”.

The suspect has been arrested and the police investigations continue.

Police also say they are investigating the rape of an 11-year-old girl at Eenhana, who was allegedly kidnapped by a suspect, age and name not made public, on Tuesday, and raped near a shebeen.

The suspect was arrested and investigations continue.

On Monday, police around the country opened at least four cases of negligent and reckless driving.

With both his legs broken in addition to multiple other injuries, a seven-year-old boy was admitted to the Rundu hospital on Monday afternoon, after he was hit by a Nissan bakkie, driven by a 36-year-old man from Kasote village.

The driver was charged with reckless or negligent driving, and police say the boy remains in critical condition in hospital.

Another case of reckless driving was opened on Monday at Henties Bay, when a young girl was hit by a motor vehicle. She sustained moderate injuries and was admitted to hospital.

The police did not indicate whether a suspect was arrested.

A 64-year-old man's leg was broken in the Omusati Region, at the Onandjaba settlement, after another 64-year-old man driving a white Toyota bakkie bumped into him as he was crossing the road.

The driver was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and arrested.

The driver of a white Land Rover who lost control and overturned the vehicle on the main road between Mariental and Keetmanshoop on Monday, was charged with reckless and negligent driving.

The man was driving with four Swiss passengers on board, one of whom broke her left elbow and another passenger her left arm. The other two passengers were uninjured.Four suicides are also being investigated by the police since Sunday. An 81-year-old Swakopmund pensioner, Joachim Adalbert Kulik, was found dead by a domestic worker on Monday morning at his home in Kramersdorf, Swakopmund. “It is alleged that the deceased shot himself with a pistol in front of his flat. No suicide note was left behind,” the police reported.

No foul play is suspected.

On Tuesday morning, the decomposed body of an unidentified male was discovered hanging on a tree behind the fire brigade headquarters in Windhoek.

The man allegedly hanged himself and was in his mid-40s.

Police are also conducting an inquest into the death of Andreas Iitope, 31-years-old, who was found hanging from a tree in a mahangu field at Ongulayanetanga village. Iitope left no suicide note behind.

On Tuesday, at a farm near Gobabis, the body of a 60 year-old man, Petrus Beukes was also found hanging from a tree. He also didn't leave behind a suicide note, the police confirmed.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Welwitchia struggles with land in Windhoek

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Welwitchia struggles with land in Windhoek The mayor of Windhoek, Muesee Kazapua said the allocation of land to Welwitchia University (WU) in the Namibian capital is high on the City of Windhoek's agenda.

“I am aware of the institution's application for land in Windhoek since 2013 and the council is considering that as a priority,” said Kazapua.

This, according to him, will add value to the health sector, which at the moment is faced with a challenge of being understaffed.

The university is operating from the Lafrenz Industrial Area with another campus in Nkurenkuru, Kavango West Region.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Scholastika Iipinge told Nampa the institution is planning to establish its main campus at Kombat in Otjozondjupa Region, as they have been trying in vain to get land in Windhoek.

She said the WU will still have branches in Windhoek and Nkurenkuru.

Iipinge said the WU will soon launch two additional Bachelor's Degree programmes that will encompass research and innovation in the disciplines of Computing, Accounting and Finance.

Last week, the WU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Commission on Research Science and Technology (NCRST), aimed at enabling planned collaborative enterprise research, development and training activities.

The NCRST's acting CEO Enid Keramen told Nampa the MoU will remain in force for a period of three years.

NAMPA

HIV battle rages on

August 9, 2017, 4:00 pm

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HIV battle rages onPoverty remains a contributing factor to the spread Challenges due to very high poverty levels continue to hamper efforts to combat HIV transmission from mother to child, amongst others. Since its inception in 2015, the Early Infant Diagnosis Programme, spearheaded by the US government, has been working hand in hand with the health ministry to prevent HIV transmission from mother-to-child through the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) drug.

Anna-Blanka Kanyondi, 30, is one of the many women in Nyangana district in the Kavango East Region living with the virus and who is on this treatment.

A mother of three, Kanyondi is expecting her fourth child in December.

Kanyondi's HIV-positive status was disclosed to her in 2008 during her first pregnancy.

“I used to live in the bush, far away from hospitals and other health centres. I was however fortunate enough to go through the PMTCT programme, so my first child was born HIV negative and free from the virus,” she recalls.

However, during her second pregnancy in 2013, Kanyondi's marriage was rocked with conflict and misunderstandings and when the union became irreconcilable, she was forced to move and settle far away from the hospital.

The new location made it impossible for her to afford the transport costs for regular check-ups and to get her medicine.

As a result, she stopped her treatment while she was pregnant with her second child.

Consequently, her baby was born with HIV.

In 2015 after falling pregnant for the third time, she continued with her treatment and her baby girl was born HIV negative.

But her challenges do not end with accessing medication. Kanyondi and her husband, who is also living with the virus are both unemployed and she told Namibian Sun that due to her financial incapacity, “it is difficult to eat all the healthy foods that are required when you are positive,” she said.

“We are only living in poverty. Since both my husband and I are unemployed, we are dependent on the government social grant. Every month each of my three children receive N$250 and that is what we survive on. It is not enough for a family of five,” adds Kanyondi, who has been living with the virus for the past nine years.



Disadvantaged

A data clerk at the Nyangana District Hospital, Maria Utare, said the majority of the residents in the district are from disadvantaged backgrounds have a challenge sticking to their treatment regime.

“Although we provide health and sex education to the villagers, most of them are not willing to go on family planning and are reluctant to get tested. This is why most of the women here only learn about their status during pregnancy,” Utare explained.

However, all hope is not lost. Utare added that more people are being educated about the benefits of being tested and she has noticed a change in the attitude of most of the residents.

“We have a lot of community health workers who go out into the field to educate the people so that they become aware of the benefits of getting treatment if you are positive, and the need for pregnant mothers to take up PMTCT early in their first trimester, as well as information on the use of contraceptives,” Utare said.

Speaking at a recently celebrated event in Nyangana, American ambassador Thomas Daughton said: “It is no secret that the highest risk period of HIV-positive infants is the first three months. Therefore, every effort must be made to ensure that children of positive mothers be diagnosed quickly in order to put them on treatment immediately.” In Kanyondi's situation, she recalls using the oral contraceptive pill, but she said she always forgot to take it and had encountered problems using the other contraceptive methods. “I was on the injection in the past as well, but my menstrual cycle was unstable so I stopped,” she explained.

Kanyondi and her family are currently living within walking distance of the hospital hence she no longer has problems going for check-ups and getting her treatment.



ARV therapy

Namibia has a high prevalence of HIV infections transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse with 5% of new HIV infections in 2010/11 due to mother-to-child transmissions, according to the World Health Organisation.

Further, from 2005 through to 2010, HIV testing among pregnant women increased from 47% to 86% and maternal antiretroviral therapy coverage increased from 60% in 2009 to 85% in 2011.

But, with the help of the Early Infant Diagnosis Programme, funded by the US government through the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), and implemented by IntraHealth International in collaboration with the health ministry, mothers on treatment are able to give birth to healthy babies and live a normal lifestyle.

Although Kanyondi is not educated, she makes sure her children are receiving an education and they are going to school.

“The reason why I am in this situation is because I am not educated. I will try my best to put my children through school with the little that I have,” she said. Her first-born is in Grade 3 while her second child will start pre-primary next year.



TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA