We know how to mourn
We’re totally crap at a whole lot of things. But mourning? We know how to do that. We’re useless at bringing a foetus into our world – one conceived, still-born, delivered with unbearable deformity in a poor or rural community.
Standard Bank ditches Makhanda jazz fest
By RAY HARTLE Standard Bank’s announcement that it is giving up on sponsoring Makhanda’s (Grahamstown) national jazz festival and associated youth jazz festival after a relationship of more than two decades, is bound to impact future editions of this homegrown,
Ex-Health SG Mbengashe takes on SIU
Long before the Special Tribunal handed down a final order in 2021 reviewing and setting aside the Eastern Cape health department’s 2020 tender for the supply of 100 motorcycle clinics, the Special Investigating Unit had already recommended to Premier Oscar
Bernard Agulhas: Auditing the Auditors
Manichaean / *adj. of or characterized by dualistic contrast or conflict between light or goodness, and darkness, chaos or evil.* Bernard Agulhas is no equivocating, ‘shades-of-grey’, accountant or auditor. That is how it should be, the former chief executive officer of
SIU’s gaffe, nixing of lawyers’ deal in ‘scooter clinic’ probe
SIU approach had major negative implications for established motorcyle clinic firm.
Former EC health boss disciplinary to go ahead
BY RAY HARTLE Former Eastern Cape health head of department Dr Thobile Mbengashe, now a special advisor in the office of the premier (OTP), must face a disciplinary inquiry initiated by Premier Oscar Mabuyane over his alleged role in the
Transplant Recipients, Uncertainty & Vaccination in a time of Covid-19
RAY HARTLE The majority of people across the world have faced fear and uncertainty since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Uncertainty among ill people – described as “the inability to determine the meaning of illness-related events”[1] has become hugely
Differences over vaccine treatment for transplant recipients
RAY HARTLE There is no agreement among South Africa’s heart transplant programmes that Covid-19 vaccination will be recommended for donor heart recipients. While a vaccine is keenly anticipated as the best means for immunosuppressed transplant recipients to counter Covid-19, not
SA’s heart transplant numbers drop due to Covid-19
South Africa’s four heart transplant programmes face challenging times, after a year in which transplant numbers slumped dramatically due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And the second wave of the virus has put paid to transplantations in most programmes in the
Random Hearts
WELCOME NEW USERS
Since the Covid-19 pandemic arrived and especially during the national lockdown in South Africa, I have seen an increase in interest in this site. That is great to have but it also means more management of the site from my
TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS SHOULD STAY HOME TILL VACCINE ARRIVES
I have been trying to figure out what my medium to long-term lifestyle may be once the enforced Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa is lifted. Logically, it seems that fellow organ donor recipients in South Africa and I must prepare
SA has delayed the viral onslaught, but we cannot avoid it – Karim
The chair of the technical advisory group to government on Covid-19, Prof Salim Abdool Karim, says the interventions introduced by the SA government have slowed the viral spread and the country has gained some time. But that is all. The
Covid-19 – a new kairos moment for the church
Most people, those who acknowledge some or other religious faith as well as those of no faith at all, allow humour to meld with their understandings of life crises. The Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant national lockdown have not changed
“WHY ME, LORD?”
Why me, Lord? Some Social Factors Associated with the Receipt of a Donor Heart In South Africa A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts of Rhodes University by
Can we talk about life after death?
This post is a re-run of previous discussions about life and death and was also carried by the Daily Dispatch just before Easter 2019. Since it’s Good Friday – can we have a conversation about life after death? This is
Remembering the Elderly
You regard yourself as intelligent, alert, able to access information using all the modern era’s channels, and so aware of what’s going on in the world, You’re reasonably healthy, you have resources to ensure your cupboards are stocked,
LOVE, LIFE & EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Life is changing radically for many people around the world. Like most people, I’m worried about contracting Covid-19, the latest or “novel” iteration of the regular coronavirus to be unleashed on the world. The stress is most evident in
Sloppy Doctors’ Writing
I really didn’t know it was a thing – and an established thing at that: People die by the hand of their doctor. Or, more correctly, they die by the poor, sloppy handwriting of their doctor. It turns out
Of hearts and loved ones, suns and songs, long roads and many words, and kitties…
It’s three years today since I was reborn. This third year has been hectically busy. I’m writing fulltime. And studying again. Spending too much time on long roads. Although the brilliant skies are always an incentive to stick with
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