My Lockdown Journal - 9 July 2020

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 has risen during the lockdown period. It is a time during which managers should be sensitive and compassionate towards employees. It is not a time to show who is in control. It is also not a time to manage employees, but rather manage the work, product, or service. Why? Because we are all in the same pandemic panic. Managers must establish loyalty and trust if they want to handle the situation properly. They must prove to their supervisors and teams that they truly care about their well-being. It does not cost money to just listen to their concerns and be supportive during this difficult time.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁-𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. Now is not the time to treat employees badly, humiliate them because of a manager's own insecurities or whatever personal issues he/she might have. This can have a severe impact on job performance in times of crisis, compromising quality, and productivity. Workplace bullying can be a gradual build-up of little incidents and misunderstandings that can wear employees down.

It might sound easy to give employees instructions or tasks, but who delivers the message does not matter more than the way it is delivered. Just the tone of a manager's voice can create unnecessary hostility and tension. Trust can be built in many ways. One way is for managers to demonstrate thought-leadership and compassion now, and positive results will follow. It is the best way to 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆-𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳.

During the lockdown, leaders are expected to take control, be a resource, and provide support by communicating with a positive attitude. Don't be downright rude and arrogant.

Lockdown Journal - Day 30

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Saturday, Day 30:

The world is not going back to ‘business as usual’ any time soon. What the world needs now is love. The only way for love to manifest is through unity. South Africa needs it now more than ever. Our differences like culture, education, class, race etc., have become walls of separation that must be broken down. These are areas we all can agree on to respect.

Given the complicated nature of our rainbow nation, it is not surprising that there are so many assumptions and misconceptions flying around on social media. I love the concept of ‘apart we are together’ because it reminds me of the spirit of reconciliation during Nelson Mandela’s leadership era.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we all complained that we had no time or were out of time. Maybe now is the time to take stock. Perhaps we should not go any further until we have accomplished this. How can we achieve this? We can start by uniting to fight a common enemy known as ‘novel coronavirus’.

During the lockdown, many women, men and children are stuck at home with their abusers. The number of cases reported since the beginning of the lockdown is scary. The right thing to do is to help someone who needs our help. Call the Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline on 0800 150 150.

#SocialDistancing
#LockdownJournal
#LockdownSouthAfrica
#COVID19

Lockdown Journal - Day 29

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Friday, Day 29:

Last night our president struggled to put on his mask in front of millions of television viewers. It was funny, but I looked at it in a philosophical way. We all wear masks; some are good at hiding the shame and pain while others wear their hearts on their sleeves. It’s a fact that most of us put on a mask to protect us from life’s harsh realities while others are stronger in facing the truth. As the poet E. E. Cummings wrote, “The greatest battle we face as human beings is the battle to protect our true selves from the self the world wants us to become.”

From this morning’s reactions on social media, we can all agree that South Africans love their president and his mask. President Ramaphosa has announced a strategy to classify provinces, districts and metros on a five-level risk scale. Level one carries the lowest and level five, the highest risk level. He also announced that the country would move to Level 4 as of 1 May. Cigarettes will also be permitted but bars, shebeens, theatres and cinemas will remain closed.

The impact of COVID-19 on our psyche is severe. During the lockdown, many women, men and children are stuck at home with their abusers. The number of cases reported since the beginning of the lockdown is scary. The right thing to do is to help someone who needs our help. Call the Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline on 0800 150 150.

#StayAtHome
#SaferTogether
#SocialDistancing
#LockdownJournal
#LockdownSouthAfrica
#COVID19

Lockdown Journal - Day 27

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Wednesday, Day 27:

The country’s poorest of the poor are experiencing extreme hardship under the extended lockdown. This is not unique to South Africa because hundreds of third world countries around the world are going through the same hardships if not worse. We are all in this together.

Last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a massive, R500-billion package aimed at loosening the grip that COVID-19 has on the economy. It is unprecedented, historic and unexpected. He announced that unemployed people, not in receipt of money from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, or a grant, will get R350 per month for 6 months. Grant beneficiaries are to receive an extra R250 a month for the next 3 months. He announced several other aid packages during the live broadcast.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given couch potatoes and keyboard protestors an opportunity to hurl criticism at our president with statements like, “not enough” and “stop the lockdown”. It seems to me that they refuse to take accountability because they expect the government to do its job of protecting its citizens. To lift the lockdown restrictions now would increase the transmission of the coronavirus dramatically.

The impact of COVID-19 on our psyche is severe. During the lockdown, many women, men and children are stuck at home with their abusers. The number of cases reported since the beginning of the lockdown is really scary. There is no excuse for abuse during or after lockdown. The bravest thing you and I can do is to help someone who needs help or is asking for help. Call the Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline on 0800 150 150.

#StayAtHome
#SaferTogether
#SocialDistancing
#LockdownJournal
#LockdownSouthAfrica
#COVID19

Lockdown Journal - Day 25

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Monday, Day 25:

Television has always been an entertaining distraction and a way to escape the stresses of daily life. However, the world has changed since the introduction of the TV. The COVID-19 pandemic is just one example of how television has become a source of vital information.

Watching the news, one realises that the coronavirus picked the right time, and the right country to create havoc on a socio-economic level. The poorest of the poor are resorting to looting because of hunger. Food supplies from the government for the poor are allegedly intercepted by councillors, and the sold or handed out to their supporters. Several claims of food looting have been reported in several provinces. This kind of behaviour coming from community-elected councillors is inhumane and unacceptable.

It’s now up to private donors and foundations like that of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, to donate food parcels in some of Port Elizabeth’s poorest townships. Some churches are also distributing food parcels to the needy and vulnerable. The current situation has many South Africans feeling helpless and hopeless. The nation is in a grip of fear due to uncertainties brought on the lockdown.

I am fully aware that quoting Bible scriptures won’t bring food on the table, but I do believe that it’s food for one’s spirit. One of the scriptures that I think about a lot comes from 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” I believe we have nothing to lose by giving God all our worries.

During the lockdown, many women, men and children are stuck at home with their abusers. There is no excuse for abuse during or after lockdown. The bravest thing you and I can do is to help someone who needs help or is asking for help. Call the Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline on 0800 150 150.

World COVID-19 count:
2,424,419 Infections - 166,235 Deaths.

#LockdownJournal
#LockdownSouthAfrica
#COVID19

Lockdown Journal - Day 21

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Thursday, Day 21:

More than two million cases of the new coronavirus have been officially registered around the world. The world as we know it has been tipped on its head. It feels as if we are literally caught up in a sci-fi movie. People around the world are “locked” in their homes in order to escape an invisible “monster” namely, COVID-19. Indeed, interesting times.

It would seem from new data that President Ramaphosa has implemented the lockdown in time to curb the spread of the coronavirus. I've heard that information about whether the lockdown has worked, will only be available in a week’s time. Let’s keep on praying for good news. It looks like the Democratic Republic of Conga is not only grappling with the COVID-19 but new cases of the Ebola virus. Let’s keep them in our prayers.

I’ve found some interesting information about the spreading of fake news during COVID-19 on Medium, an internet magazine. The article says, “Just like a virus, misinformation spreads by human contact. Viruses spread through physical contact while information spreads through a different type of contact, one that is immune to social distancing." But while messaging platforms make spreading fake news easier, the internet is but a tool for disseminating a human concoction. This could be why misinformation is so much more contagious than accurate information.

The answer is obvious: “Viruses need hosts so they can replicate and spread. This is also true for information. In this case, we are the growth medium: We feed the sources by reposting or retweeting something we’ve seen or read.” Think before you spread information.

Please ‘spread’ the following information: During the lockdown, many women, men and children are stuck at home with their abusers. There is no excuse for abuse during or after lockdown. The bravest thing you and I can do is to help someone who needs help or is asking for help. Call the Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline on 0800 150 150.

#LockdownJournal
#LockdownSouthAfrica
#CoronaVirus

MY LOCKDOWN JOURNAL - DAY 1

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Friday, Day 1:

It's my wife's birthday! To show my love and appreciation, I wrote her a message and posted it on social media. Oh, I made her a scrumptious breakfast accompanied by a bunch of roses (the rose of Sharon).

Our street is quiet; no cars, no joggers, no-one walking their dogs, no workers on their way to work. Just an eerie silence... The coronavirus has become our 9/11 and our Arab Spring. The coronavirus has changed civilisation; it changed our imaginations. It’s a historic period because mankind will in future (now already) refer to a pre-coronavirus and a post-coronavirus period.

We’ll look at sci-fi movies and acknowledge that the unthinkable can become possible within a matter of days. Science fiction before coronavirus was just that, “fiction”!

The world is concerned with maintaining some sort of normalcy but the truth is that we’ve been swallowed up in the abyss of a pandemic that even medical scientists don’t understand. However, while we’re trying to stay afloat, the pandemic has brought civilisation closer together. We’re in a battle for survival. Let’s stay together!

#COVID19SouthAfrica
#CoronaVirus
#LockdownSouthAfrica