It's been a year since my book on my personal account of my victorious battle against
#pcos
and
#infertility
was launched....a year since I started the conversation on these two important topics in SA.
From KZN Educ department
Sydenham Grade R pupil Lindokuhle went home in the wrong taxi at 1pm. No news.
Mum has gone to 3 police stations. If anyone has seen him or knows of his whereabouts, please contact Sydenham Police Station.
Mom details 0614511192
Sydenham Saps 031 2032707
My husband's nephew, 29, has died on Covid-19 complications. His wife is in a critical condition in hospital. They got married in April. They had moved to JHB two weeks ago to start their new jobs and tested positive last week. This virus is cruel. It really is.
Yesterday, I tweeted about a little boy, who went missing on the first day of school. There was genuine concern from 100s of people; concern for a boy that you did not even know. It's true that your child is my child & mine is yours. Let us never forget this. Protect all children
Tonight, for the second time in two days, a Muslim charity brought a loaf of bread and milk to our door. But they brought so much more. They restored our faith in humanity. May Allah bless you always. Shukran
Lindokuhle Ntsethe has not been found. He reportedly took the wrong taxi after his first day of school as a Grade R pupil. His mother confirmed to me at 6:12am that the has been no developments in the search for him.
The quick thinking Shoprite staff, who poured cooking oil on the tiled floor to stop looters, deserve an award, standing ovation & definitely our respect.
At first it looked like something Jerry would do to stop Tom or any other cartoon character but the end result was too good!
Just read a post from a woman saying she is beyond stressed and helpless. She doesn't have money for petrol to get to work tomorrow.
Her salary has run out.
This is the reality! There is no such thing as budgeting in the current economic climate in SA.
😪
My chest literally ached as we threw away the contents of our chest freezer today. More than 48 hours without electricity and no word on when it will come back out.
To watch food (and money) being thrown away has given me anxiety.
Dbn pupils torch their school because their cellphones were confiscated. A PMB pupil petrol bombed his deputy principal's car because his phone was confiscated. SA parents, you are failing. I said what I said.
From KZN Educ department
Sydenham Grade R pupil Lindokuhle went home in the wrong taxi at 1pm. No news.
Mum has gone to 3 police stations. If anyone has seen him or knows of his whereabouts, please contact Sydenham Police Station.
Mom details 0614511192
Sydenham Saps 031 2032707
From KZN Educ department
Sydenham Grade R pupil Lindokuhle went home in the wrong taxi at 1pm. No news.
Mum has gone to 3 police stations. If anyone has seen him or knows of his whereabouts, please contact Sydenham Police Station.
Mom details 0614511192
Sydenham Saps 031 2032707
I just wrote a story about a new mother, who was "allowed" by two robbers to finish breastfeeding her newborn baby before they raped her in PMB home.
There is a ball of anger, sadness and hopelessness in my stomach.
The LG warehouse in Cornubia, north of Durban, has reportedly been looted. Looters are seen leaving with expensive TVs and appliances.
@SundayTimesZA
@TimesLIVE
This afternoon we opened our door to kindness and love staring at us.
A Muslim charity had brought a loaf of bread to our door.
Mashallah, you truly followed the teaching 'Give charity without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity'.
I wish school would start later in SA. We leave home at 6am to be at school at 7am. We have to beat traffic. However we travel in a warm car. What about the kids, who walk long distances or have to use public transport to school? Some are at the bus stop from 5am 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
A KZN paramedic began her shift yesterday, not knowing that she would never go home to her husband and three children again. Phumzile Dlamini & her crewmate came under fire after securing two patients in the ambulance. She died on the scene. Her colleague was critically injured.
*N3 Hilton Accident*
The uMngeni Municipality has made the Hilton Town Hall available to any motorists on the N3 that require a place to stay or rest. Mattresses and blankets will be provided. A hot meal will be provided.
Cllr CJ Pappas
Mayor
uMngeni Local Municipality
Tonight I love my profession. I wrote a story for
@SundayTimesZA
about a young man, who lost his job during the lockdown. This evening he informed me that someone read the article on Sunday and has offered him a job. 🙂
To police officers, paramedics, emergency services crew, toll booth operators, traffic officers, nurses, doctors and basically everyone who has to work to ensure we have a safe and smooth festive season, thank you.
I tested positive. The four-year-old, his paternal grandfather and my husband, and I are now positive. We're all on different timelines. The four-year-old is on day 11, his grandfather on day 4, my husband on day 2 and me on day 1. One day at a time. Together. We will heal.
David Beckham stood for 13 hours in a queue to pay his respects to the Queen. In SA "influencers" with 5000 followers would expect to be pushed to the front, given seating and refreshments.
Our four-year-old tested positive for Covid-19 after a case at play school. A week later, his paternal grandfather, who lives with us, tested positive. My husband tested positive two days ago. I woke up with symptoms this morning. 😪
TODAY I WON MY 6TH VODACOM JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD.
It's my 4th in the Opinion category.
2019 - A penny for your thoughts
2021 - 'I never want to feel that way again'
2022 - You want to wave your pain in our faces
2023 - We lose more than power and water during outages.
If I call you and say: "Is this Takealot? I would like to cancel an order of Spiderman and Batman Lego because someone is not listening me", please just go with it.
Know you're on speaker so please reply: "Thank you ma'am, the order is cancelled."
🤣
If you're headed to Blue Lagoon in Durban, there is a man selling soji from the boot of his car. It's R20 and absolutely delicious. It's noon and we were his first sale of the day. He has many more to sell. Please support small business in a really bad economy.
Today I scooped by 5th Vodacom Journalist of the Year award. It is my 3rd win in the Opinion category. I am honored to be recognized for my work because in recent times, journalism is grueling, especially in KZN.
Dear looters, my book has received rave reviews and is nominated for an award. You steal everything in my husband's office, even his old school sharpener but you leave that? I know you saw it, because you threw it on the floor. Your loss!
Elderly South Africans forced to queue from 5am to after 3pm to renew their SASSA cards. And now being told to come back tomorrow. Surely, we can do better.
@OfficialSASSA
@PresidencyZA
For most of his incarceration, Schabir Shaik was admitted to a private hospital under the name "Mr Van Rensburg". I broke that story all those years ago and just remembered about it.....
I am going to say it again - rethink your holiday plans to Durban this festive season. We haven't had water for days now. How does
@eThekwiniM
plan to cater for visitors when it cannot even supply water to ratepaying citizens?
In the 2019 aftermath of the floods that claimed 85 lives in KZN, experts told me shoddy workmanship in building cheap houses, poor locations and lack of maintenance of infrastructure like storm-water drains were to blame for the high death toll.
Today, nothing has changed.
Electrician, plumber, hair stylist, dressmaker, mechanic....these are professions too. Class of 2023, you may even become your own boss. Own your future. Congratulations.
Today I sat in traffic from PMB to Durban for three and a half hours.
There were crashes, road works, protests....
Three and a half hours.
Can you imagine how much businesses and our economy is losing with these traffic jams that are happening EVERY SINGLE DAY.
1/2 Some facts from Lindokuhle's mother:
1. He was supposed to go home with the organised scholar transport. But when the "uncle" got there at 1pm, he couldn't find him.
2. She rushed to school from her home and made it there by 1:30pm. But they still couldn't find him.
Our four-year-old tested positive after a case at playschool. Within two weeks, we were positive. My husband is in hospital for Covid pneumonia and treatment for his comorbidity, hypoparathyroidism (exacerbated by the virus). Blood tests on day 7 helped doctors save his life.
Shallcross Library apparently just got robbed and all computers were stolen. A 14 year old child, who was at the library, was assaulted. This is SA. Children can't even go to the library because South Africans are targets EVERYWHERE!!!!
I'm a keynote speaker at a Women's Breakfast on Saturday. I'm invited to speak about PCOS and infertility. I read my speech to my husband. Riav (6), who was drawing Transformers, was listening. At the end, he asked: "So, did you have a baby then? What happened in the end?"
😅
Four brothers are missing from Polokwane. They were kidnapped. They are children. It's not trending. But anything to do with a SA "celeb" trends on social media.
Says a lot about us.
Yesterday was my last day as a senior journalist at the Sunday Times. I worked for almost 16 years of my 23-year career at this institution. I am ready for a new challenge. Therefore, I am available for writing, editing, or any media-related work. nnairsukdhev
@gmail
.com
I went to Dischem today. The store didn't have what I wanted. I left empty-handed. I DID NOT BUY ANYTHING IN DISCHEM.
I am available for interviews.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪🤪🤪
Afraid to sleep. Don't know what we will wake up too.
In the aftermath of the floods, I wrote a story about the trauma and anxiety from community disasters.
I think most of us in KZN are afraid tonight.
2/2
3. She assumed he got into taxi. A Burnwood Secondary pupil had already found him walking alone outside the school. She took him home.
4. Lindokuhle is completely oblivious to the worry and panic his disappearance caused.
5. He is excited to go back to school tomorrow.
My heart is so heavy. The more than 300 have names, faces and loved ones.
I am also tired and I am working tomorrow. My heart and brain hurts.
....journalism....
40 hours without electricity. It takes 40 hours to fix a cable fault. It took 24 hours to dig a trench. Weekends are supposed to be restful but if you live in Durban, it's stressful. I am no longer angry or frustrated, I am just sad.
Going forward, my friends are going to be getting a basket of detergents or vegetables or groceries for their birthdays. Because that's the kind of gift that everyone can use these days.
All those fancy soaps and ornaments are not useful in a bad economy.
Call centre agent: "****** would like to offer you a dental plan."
Me: "No, thank you."
Call center agent: "Is there any reason why would not want to take this plan?"
Me: "I don't have teeth."
Silence on the line for a few seconds.
Call center agent: "Okay, thank you."
🤣
There are many comments on social media praising Thabo Bester for duping police. Some even call him a "legend."
This man is a murderer and rapist.
There should be outrage, not praise.
I left my parents house with doughnuts, sweetmeats, banana puri, birthday cake, mielie cake, cupcakes, samoosas, chevda, avos, three 2l Coke, veg from their garden, flour, peanut butter, tins of baked beans and ...a warning to return the Tupperware.
🤣
Derek Watts remarkable career as a journalist and presenter captivated audiences. With his wit and fearless pursuit of the truth, he brought us stories that mattered. Whether he was reporting from the field or hosting a show, his dedication to excellence always shone through.
I got tongs for Valentine's Day. You read right. Not thongs. 🙃 I got some fancy tongs for my airfryer. This is Valentine's Day in our forties.
Ps I also got a full tank of petrol.
That's Amore 🤣
When in a private hospital emerg/casualty unit dont agreed to blood panels even if you're dying because
@Discovery_SA
won't pay for it as the doctors there are "GPs". Only specialists can bill for a respiratory panel? When your kid is sick at 8pm on a Sunday, find a specialist.
Six years ago, our doc called with results - our first IVF cycle failed. Two embryos from the cycle were stored. One was Riav. When I look at him, the heartache and frustration of infertility are a blur. Riav, a living symbol of love and hope....made with science and love.
The real influencers should be those, who have dropped everything to hand out a loaf of bread and carton of milk or the parent, sharing a pack of nappies with a stranger.
We don't need to follow people unboxing items, holidaying on sandy beaches and eating perfectly plated food!
Three years ago, I sat at my desk, thinking it was just another day on the job and then the health department issued a media release to announce that Covid-19 was in SA...and life was never the same again.
Thinking of those we lost along the way.
You are missed and loved daily.
I saw a post on FB asking advice because teachers confiscated kids' cellphones. Code of Conduct is clear that phones are not permitted.
Advice from everyone: Open a charge of theft against the teachers.
This is why there are so many entitled brats who go on to become criminals.
I interviewed one of SA's most dedicated cops. I thanked him for keeping us safe. He was shocked. In his 20 years as a cop, it was the 1st time someone thanked him. I can't imagine what it must be like to put your life on the line to protect others. We need to applaud good cops!
This is my side hustle. I do chocolate coated pretzels. Over 20000 pretzels with various toppings have been delivered throughout SA since I started in March. 😁
Elfie is back. He got a special pass to spend some time with Riav out of the festive season. Just want to see our boy be his cheerful self again. Yesterday was one of the scariest days of our lives. Please pray for his speedy recovery.
Riav (5) is moving out. As I type this he is "packing up."
I see all of his underwear shoved in a bag. No other clothes. A box of Lego, his toothbrush, a book, two apples and his water bottle.
🤡
Thanks all for your prayers & offering support. One day at a time...
Riav's teacher called him. His classmates made a card. "I am going to be a teacher who calls sick kids too. It will make them happy and me too." Ps Elfie visited a hospital for the first time.
Mr President, we have no water even as you address the nation. Yet, you are boasting about water infrastructure that we are told has to be shut off daily as IT DOES NOT WORK!!
#delusional
My neighbour is hanging washing out to dry. I am literally watching someone in the rain, getting wet, hanging wet clothing to dry in the rain...which is pouring down on the washing line.
I am going back to bed.
1/2 This is WILD! The driver of a Toyota Tazz is being hailed as a hero by social media users after she pursued a robber who stole her handbag and hit him with her car on a busy street in The Bluff in Durban south.
Most didn't know if they'd like the taste yet they bought 8 because "everyone's drinking it."
Imagine if influencers promoted education, good behavior, kindness...
R39.99 x 8 = R319.92
But parents complain about the price of Pritt every damn year.
Them: "Why did you want to be a journalist?
Me: "To use my pen to fight injustices, to changes lives for the better, to be the watchdog of society. To make a difference..."
Trending headlines in SA: "Man bakes cheesecake in wife's Tupperware for alleged mistress."
😖
The new police commissioner should be the quick-thinking Shoprite employee who came up with the plan to pour oil on the tiled floor to keep looters away during the July unrest.
😆
#SAPS
1/2 My culture is the courage of my forefathers, who arrived as indentured labourers in SA. It is having a braai at every opportunity. It is the tune of a Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s song. It is bunny chows, phuntu, and koeksusters. It is saris, the Springbok and Proteas shirts, ..
SA Rugby should change its logo to below. Now the dietician has a twin, who apparently had the affair with the player. Next, we will learn that Stefano planted a chip in his brain to control him....and these are the days of our lives.
Lindokuhle Ntsethe has not been found. He reportedly took the wrong taxi after his first day of school as a Grade R pupil. His mother confirmed to me at 6:12am that the has been no developments in the search for him.
Me: Hello this is Nivashni from the Sunday Times.
Receptionist: Did you say your name was Valentine?
Me: No. It's Nivashni.
Receptionist: Okay, Vanessa. How can I assist?
TRUE STORY! This morning.
We are in a community service delivery WhatsApp group anxiously awaiting updates on the major power outage. Someone named Lolly starts advertising her kid's textbooks for sale.
Right now, the drama over Lolly breaking the group's rules is the only thing bringing me joy. 🤪