GALLERY: A look back at 2020

The CHRONICLE looks back on what happened throughout 2020.

It was a tough one for everyone, but it was in times like these where people took hands to get through difficult times and we learned to appreciate everything in life.

January

• Mzansi’s favourite couple Nonhlanhla Soldaat and Hector Mkansi, fondly nicknamed the “KFC couple”, finally had their fairy-tale wedding on New Year’s Eve. The event was perfectly executed by renowned wedding and event specialist Precious the Planner and was set against the backdrop of the lush gardens of the Thaba Eco Hotel.

• A family from Ridgeway Extension Three was involved in a horrific accident in Cape Town on January 3 and they are pleading for help to ease their financial burden. Ann Sarkis, George Sarkis, Elijah Corrall and Riley Corrall were involved in an accident and were all admitted into Mediclinic on January 4.

• Grade One learners across Johannesburg south were warmly welcomed at locals schools on January 15 and the Comaro CHRONICLE featured a number of photographs of the little ones on their first day of school.

• Bindi, the world’s most courageous teddy bear, will yet again fight all her fears to create awareness and raise funds for The Teddy Bear Foundation. Bindi, the spokesbear for the foundation, will be courageous and swim the 2020 aQuelle Midmar Mile.

• On the evening of January 22, a truck with a double trailer, careered out of control down Comaro Street, Glenvista Extension Four, carrying thousands of bottles of sunflower oil, being transported for the government of Botswana, which was not for resale. The driver of the truck died.

• Jan van Aswegen (64), a resident of Alberton and member of the South Downs Country Club for the last 22 years, was fatally attacked by four pit bulls while trying to save a woman. This tragedy took place on January 23 in Mayfield Park.

February

• Marist Brothers Linmeyer celebrated World Read Aloud Day on February 5. The Comaro CHRONICLE visited the school to chat with a Grade One teacher and three learners in her class about reading.

• Alaan Bava (16), a resident of Bassonia and learner at Marist Brothers Linmeyer, received the Sue Lubbe and Friends Foundation’s Helping Hands Award. Alaan is part of a group of young volunteers for the organisation.

• Accident survivor Shavon Archer warns of a dangerous bend on Kliprivier Drive. She was in a single-vehicle accident on the Aspen Lakes turnoff on Kliprivier Drive on February 4.

• Nkosi Johnson would have turned 31 on February 4 and Gail Johnson, founding director of Nkosi’s Haven and Nkosi’s foster mother, fondly remembers him. Even Google Doodles honoured him.

• On February 10, 2020, Thembisa Yako, who lived at St Mary’s Children’s Home for many years, died
A memorial service was held in the chapel of St Mary’s on February 18 for Thembisa with all her “brothers and sisters” as well as staff from the home, friends from Cotlands and others attending the service in her memory.

• SOJO celebrated 21 years and director Sheldon Stuurman who is also a financial manager at Gold Reef City was excited to share SOJO’s 2020 vision.

March

• Business partners Jason Dicks and Chris Whyte, both from the South of Joburg, approached Ward 54 councillor Stuart Marais to show him this new product which not only fills potholes but also remains intact after wear and tear and heavy rainfall. Potholes could be a thing of the past with a new product being imported into South Africa from Korea, under the name of Wulftech.

• Domestics learned about being safe during the monthly Domestic Watch meeting, organised by Michelle Pelser of Mondeor SAPS Sector 2 Crime Forum and assisted by Joy Boswell.

• Members of JMPD K9 Dog Sport team hosted the K9 Working Dog competition under the auspices of the South African Working Trial Dog Association and the Gauteng Central Working Dogs at the JMPD Academy on March 7.
Under the captaincy of inspector Peter September, the JMPD team scooped a total of 14 medals.

• Shona Shelley from Alberton was named the 2020 Woman of Stature in Education at the Woman of Stature Awards on March 8. She was honoured for her work with Design2Thrive.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown for 21 days effective from midnight on March 26.

April

• * In a reply to a call for assistance, the community reached out and a large number of gloves and sanitisers were donated to Mondeor and Booysens police stations. Councillor Sarah Wissler told the CHRONICLE when she went to collect permits for other councillors, she went through a road block and noticed that officers did not have gloves and sanitisers.

• Elders say they are not scared of lockdown. The Comaro CHRONICLE spoke to some of the town’s older residents ahead of the Covid-19 lockdown to hear how they will cope during this time.

• On April 5, an on-duty inspector from Johannesburg SPCA (JSPCA) received a call from a resident in Noordgesig about a stray dog that was wondering the street.  Angel would have died a slow and painful death if she was not rescued by the JSPCA.

• With the assistance of some Good Samaritans, the needy in the south of Johannesburg are still getting much-needed food parcels. Councilllor Sarah Wissler, with the help and sponsorship of Targett in the South area, gave out food to the homeless and communities in need.

May

• Over 500 food hampers were given to people in need in the south of Johannesburg after deliveries started on April 25. The deliveries, part of Project Blue Relief, brought relief to some of those affected by the continued lockdown.

• Uncle Baboo and Crew have been feeding the South since day one of the lockdown and they are continuing to help those less fortunate and the homeless. They have been giving out food parcels, cooked meals, fruits and bread on a daily basis. Uncle Baboo and Crew have covered the length and breadth of the South in areas such as Moffat View and Regents Park Mayfair, Bellavista, Turffontein, Rosettenville and Southdale to name a few.

• Stepping Stone Hospice and Care Services in Newmarket Park, Alberton, achieved the almost impossible during lockdown. In a matter of three weeks, and with the help of the community, Stepping Stone Hospice increased its palliative care capacity from an eight bed in-patient unit to 13 beds.

• Denise de Witt (77) from Renaissance Retirement Home in Glenvista has helped over 20 women from the South by organising them to make masks and earn a living during lockdown. These are women who would have been at home earning nothing.

• Dr Arnold Mervyn Friedman retires at 87. The dentist he used to see when he was growing up inspired him to specialise in teeth and dentures – something he has done for the past 63 years.

June

• On May 31, couple Crystal Reynolds (25) and her fiancé, Tyron Steyn (26), have been in lockdown for 123 days, first in Wuhan, then in lockdown and quarantine at The Ranch Resort in Polokwane, and are now at home.
The couple was teaching in China when the country went into lockdown. They were there for just over two years and shared their experience of being in lockdown in Wuhan and the relief to be back in South Africa safely with our readers.

• Remember little Saiyann Pillay and her storytelling quest in an effort to raise funds for Door of Hope? Saiyann aimed at raising R10 000 by her seventh birthday. Well, this little one celebrated her birthday on June 3 and was able to raise R9 400. As promised, her dad, Jay, added another R10 000 and the funds have been paid over to Door of Hope.

• Imran Abbas (47) ran the Comrades in the comfort of his home in Oakdene on June 14. Comaro CHRONICLE met with Imran on June 10 just after his final training for the Race The Comrade Legends 2020. This is the world’s largest ultra-marathon where the world’s largest virtual event will be happening.

• Anet Roux from Alewynspoort turned making masks and distributing food parcels into a family affair. She said her 13-year-old daughter suffers from chest and heart disease and making masks is close to her heart. As a family, they have managed to make more than 300 masks.

July

• Venon Z Worx, a Glenvista car club, put their wheels in motion, organising a 51-car charity drive for Door of Hope on Mandela Day. They donated, amongst other things, food, cleaning material and toys.

• The Community Transport Industry answered a call to help from DJ Fresh to assist Nkosi’s Haven after a part of the village succumbed to fire.

• Katrien de Beer, a 50-year-old Stepping Stone Hospice patient, successfully recovered from Covid 19. She tested positive for the virus a mere two weeks after she was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.

August

• Female JMPD officers unusually held a roadblock on August 16 to celebrate Women’s Month. The JMPD officers stood in solidarity to discourage gender-based violence and showed their appreciation to female drivers by handing them flowers.

• Police officers visited Sham Singh, a retired warrant officer, to celebrate his 80th birthday with him. Col Paulus van Eeden, one of the visiting officers, said that they were simply moved by Singh’s years of service and dedication to the force.

September

• Scores of Southerners joined people all across the country by demonstrating along Kliprivier Road as part of the Move One Million demonstration. The people declared their grievances against corruption and various other systemic problems across South Africa.

• Miss Earth South Africa hosted an online waste forum on September 18 to create awareness around National Recycle Week. “Recycling and addressing our daily waste is an important element to being environmentally conscious,” said Ella Bella Leite, Miss Earth South Africa’s director.

• A small community initiative to show appreciation to nursing staff at Netcare Mulbarton Hospital unexpectedly took off when residents and businesses rallied behind the initiative. Together they secured enough to provide snacks to all of the Mulbarton Hospital staff members.

October

• Angelo Agrizzi, the Bosasa whistleblower, was originally denied bail in the corruption case against him during his appearance on October 15 in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. This decision was overturned on appeal in the Johannesburg High Court on October 30.

• Bridgestone South Africa and Supa Quick raised R25 000 to towards 1 700 meals to feed those in need through Meals on Wheels. The handover took place on October 15 in Haddon.

November

• Security guard Joshua Ramathemela saved a four-year-old girl from drowning in a pool. He heard children screaming for help. Joshua reached the pool, dove in still in uniform and managed to resuscitate the girl using CPR.
• Mondeor SAPS members were honoured with promotion certificates at a CPF-hosted function on November 13. Forty-one officers were promoted, 39 new sergeants and two new warrant officers.

December

• JMPD welcomed 1 097 officers as the trainees graduated after they were recalled earlier in the year due to discrepancies in their training programme. The officers were rolled out as part of the City of Johannesburg’s 10+ programme focusing on community policing.

• On December 3, Mondeor SAPS held a gathering at Jackson informal settlement as part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign. The officers spoke to those who attended to tell them that they could talk about their experiences of abuse.

• The van Rensburg family of Liefde and Vrede were left traumatised when their three German shepherds were poisoned leading to the death of one of them. This was amidst a rise in dog poisonings, according to APN.