A Durban doctor, who contracted a deadly flesh-eating bacteria through a cut on his leg while surf-skiing in the ocean, is lucky to be alive. ||| A Durban doctor, who contracted a deadly flesh-eating bacteria through a cut on his leg while surf-skiing in the ocean, is lucky to be alive and not to have lost the limb.Dr Peter Breedt of Hillcrest, a surf-ski enthusiast, is one of several people who have got sick after surfing or swimming at city beaches in recent months.And, as we enter one of the hottest months of the year, one of the country’s leading water-quality experts, microbiologist Professor Eugene Cloete, dean of Stellenbosch University’s Science Department, has warned about the dangers of swimming in the sea if one has cuts, wounds or chronic liver disease. Breedt said that, together with a medical colleague, he had diagnosed that the naturally occurring bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, had eaten away the tissue of his foot after he had gone paddle-skiing from Ushaka Beach to the Bluff and back, in November. His wound has still not healed.“I had a little scratch on my leg and I went surf-skiing. The water was really smelly with a sulphur kind of smell,” Dr Breedt said. “I have spoken to surgeons who say they see it quite often and that you can get it from swimming in river mouths,” Breedt said. Breedt said he started feeling sick and a black area developed on his foot six hours after surf skiing. “I took lots of antibiotics and had three operations to cut away the dead skin and I had skin grafts,” Breedt said. “It’s hard to believe that from being healthy one minute I could get so sick.” Breedt said he believed he was alive because he was a doctor and had acted quickly.Professor Cloete described Vibrio vulnificus as one of the most dangerous pathogens that occur in the ocean – it grows where salt concentrations are high and temperatures warm. “The vibrio genos can grow in salt water when the ambient temperature is between 15°C and 35°C. It has been found in shellfish and in undercooked oysters. “However, if you get it into a wound it causes septicaemia and shock and if it gets into the bloodstream you will get very sick.”Cloete said the mortality rate was up to 50 percent if the bacteria entered the bloodstream and treatment within 48 hours was vital.“If you go beyond 48 hours the fatality rate increases,” Cloete said. “If you have got sores you should not be going into the sea because you are exposing the body to potential contamination, not only to vibrio vulnificus but to a number of organisms. I would not go into the sea with cuts, and if you scratch yourself on the rocks you could be exposed.“People with chronic liver disease are more vulnerable because (if swallowed) it can enter the blood through the gastro-intestinal tract.” Cloete said he was not sure if the minimum infective dose had been established but if swallowed the bacteria would cause diarrhoea and vomiting.“It is more rare than other water-borne diseases and not even as common as salmonella and e.coli. But we might think it is rare because it is not well reported.” The only other reported case of vibrio vulnificus infection in Durban was in 2002 when fisherman Eric Erasmus died after he contracted the bacteria while collecting sand prawns in Durban harbour.author RW Johnson had his leg amputated in 2009 after cutting himself on a rock, but the bacteria, aeromonas hydrophila, was believed to have been responsible for his infection.eThekweni Municipality deputy head of water and sanitation, technical support, Frank Stevens, said the water was tested five times a month at 33 beaches, including Wedge, North Beach and uShaka. He said the city spent R3 million annually on monitoring. Stevens said vibrio vulnificus was found globally and was not part of normal beach water testing anywhere in the world. “The public should avoid swimming in close proximity to river mouths and stormwater outlets within 24 hours of a storm event. Heavy storms, such as were experienced in December, are likely to impact beach water quality until such time as the river returns to its normal flow,” Stevens said.He said the city measured e.coli and enterococcus following US and EU standards. “The quality has generally been good but unacceptable levels are experienced from time-to-time, usually due to high-rainfall events which result in, for example, flushing of paved areas and the surcharge of manholes,” Stevens said.When levels were unacceptable the public was warned on boards at the beach and on the city’s website, he said. Sewage from waste water works was controlled in terms of the Green Drop programme in which the city was the best performing metro, he said.“Stormwater is a problem faced in every city. First-flush interventions have been put in place but do not solve the problem. All citizens need to take their actions into consideration,” Stevens said. Three of a group of five surfers, who swam in the sea at Wedges Beach last week, said they had become violently ill with gastroenteritis. Lee van Vuuren said the water was murky but they had not thought much of it until they woke up the next day vomiting. Another surfer who got sick, Craig Knott, said: “We surf quite a bit in and around the piers and the water quality has not been great for quite some time but supposedly it’s just the storm water drains running but it’s almost like sewage in some cases – and smells.”Dean Sepprings said he had had contracted an ear infection and a post-nasal drip.Evan Basson said he had also become ill. “I can’t say it is the water but it was strange that we all swam and got sick,” Basson said.Hillcrest mother Trisha Sandeman said she swam at the beach two weeks ago and had accidentally swallowed sea water.“I am fit and I eat well and the following day I felt like I was coming down with a cold and my throat was inflamed. I had terrible sinuses and was off work and have only recovered now,” she said this week. A Durban surfer, who asked not to be named, said earache had become common among local surfers and there was concern about sea water quality. “I personally have been very sick and had diarrhoea and a bad stomach,” she said. - Independent on Saturday view more

Further investigations have been undertaken to avert mass protest ||| DURBAN will not be grinding to a halt just yet after the eThekwini municipality executive committee yesterday mandated city manager S’bu Sithole to investigate grievances of protesting metro police officers. The decision was taken during a closed meeting, said municipal spokesman Thabo Mofokeng. “The city manager has been tasked with leading the investigation and he will elect a task team consisting of city administrators who will assist with the investigation,” he added. The move to appoint a task team comes after metro officers, who downed tools on Thursday, threatened to embark on a “mass action” protest if their demands are not met. On Thursday, hundreds of disgruntled officers, who are members of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), marched to Durban City Hall and handed over their memorandum to Mayor James Nxumalo. High on the list of their demands was the sacking of Metro head Eugene Nzama or that he be reassigned to another department. They also wanted to see the city rooting out corruption, mismanagement, nepotism and gross inequality which they say has plagued the force. One of the accusations levelled against Nzama contained in the memorandum is the alleged misuse of municipality vehicles. Samwu provincial secretary Jaycee Ncanana said they also wanted the city to investigate the qualifications of Rajen Chin, head of the metro police’s specialised units. Late last month, former eThekwini municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe suspended Chin and promised to start an investigation, which the marchers said had not commenced.Ncanana said while the union welcomed the investigation, he would not rule out the possibility of officers downing tools indefinitely if the investigation does not yield the desired outcome. If the officers end up embarking on a strike, it would be a first for Durban because essential workers, including metro police, are legally required to work during a strike. This would mean few or no metro officers patrolling the streets, or enforcing law and order.“If our demands are still not met after this investigation then we will not hesitate to embark on a programme of mass action because it would mean that’s the only language the employer understands,” he said. While Mofokeng would not give a deadline for the completion of the investigation, he said it would receive priority. “Once the investigation has been completed the municipal manager will then report back to the executive committee who will then take a decision regarding the grievances,” he said. - Independent on Saturday view more

KZN resident’s open their hearts to help the victim of a shark attack, writes Yogas Nair. ||| ‘God bless you! God bless you! People like you make the world a better place...” Those were the emotional words of gratitude expressed to Durban orthotist and prosthetist Tjaart Kruger who donated a R60 000 prosthetic leg to shark-bite victim Imraan Sheik.Kruger read about Sheik’s plight when the Daily News interviewed the fisherman last week, 10 years after he had been bitten while standing on a sandbank near the Royal Natal Yacht Club in Durban Harbour.In 1992 Sheik’s story made headlines as it was the first reported shark attack in the harbour since record-keeping began in the 1940s. Sheik had said his disability, and a decrepit wood and iron leg, had restricted his movement and prevented him from finding work.He relies on his wife, Taahirah, to help him move around and had turned to the sea to earn a living, taking the train daily from Chatsworth to fish at Durban’s South Pier. He is now nicknamed Sharky .Several other readers were also touched by Sheik’s plight and offered to assist him financially and with food and clothing.Yesterday, Sheik, 27, could not contain his excitement as Kruger measured him for the new limb, which is expected to be ready for fitting early next week.Kruger took detailed measurements and a plaster cast. The ill-fitting prosthetic leg which Sheik uses is about eight-years-old and is being held together with bandages, nuts and bolts, sticky tape and glue. He often suffers phantom pains and terrible blisters caused by the prosthetic limb, which weighs more than 10kg.He has been praying for a new limb for years to help ease his pain and suffering. Kruger, owner of TAP Kruger Orthopaedics in Glenwood, said Sheik’s old prosthetic leg was most unsuitable for him and was extremely uncomfortable.“His stump has reduced in size over the years and the old limb would have been difficult to wear. The new limb will be made of fibreglass and will be much lighter.”He said the new limb would comprise three parts: the socket, knee and foot.“Because Imraan loves to fish and go to the beach, the knee will be fitted with a special manual lock. This will allow him to walk easily on the shore without falling over.”Kruger said he first read about Sheik’s plight about seven years ago when he was employed by the company he now owns.“At the time, I was not in a position to help. When I saw the young man’s story in the paper last week, I knew immediately I wanted to help. “My admin clerk, Pinky Thaver, brought it to my attention. She immediately got to work tracing Imraan and setting up the appointment for him to be measured.”Kruger said he hoped the new limb would give Sheik a new lease of life and the confidence to follow his dream of joining the navy.A delighted Sheik was extremely emotional and promised to pray for Kruger’s well-being every day so he could continue to help more people.“God must bless him with good health. He is a wonderful man. I could never repay him; R60 000 is way beyond my reach. “He has helped put an end to my pain and suffering. For that, I will be eternally grateful.” - The Mercury view more

SIX African luminaries are to have honorary degrees conferred on them by the University of KwaZulu-Natal. ||| Six African luminaries, including the “Princess of Africa”, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, birdman Hugh Chittenden and Zuleikha Mayat, the woman synonymous with the cookbook Indian Delights, are to have honorary degrees conferred on them by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in April. The six are being recognised for their “outstanding” work in their respective fields.Thudiso Gcabashe, a community worker and national orders recipient, Professor Mahmood Mamdani, once described as “perhaps the greatest living African scholar”, and conservationist and “elephant whisperer” Lawrence Anthony round off the list. For Chittenden and Mayat, the accolade is particularly special as neither went to university. Chittenden is chairman of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, which publishes all editions of Roberts Birds of South Africa.The Eshowe resident is busy making the final corrections to an illustrated guide on sub-species of birds in southern Africa, which will be published this year.The university praised Chittenden for his efforts in increasing public understanding of ornithology, calling his knowledge “encyclopaedic”. However, Chittenden, 64, said he was simply a “retired horticulturalist with a birding hobby”.“This (the honorary degree) is a huge accolade for anyone. There are not many people in KwaZulu-Natal who have received it. I never went to university. When I was young I just wasn’t interested,” he said.Aside from being a culinary whizz, Mayat, 85, of Westville, is also a poet, cultural and religious leader, and gender activist. “I’ve just been doing my work all these years, but never working toward accolades. I never dreamt of anything like this…”The university said her “pioneering and bold” efforts in tackling gender issues, and sensitive cultural and religious practices regarding the role of women, had made her a “remarkable role model”. Chaka Chaka is still in Switzerland, having received the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award there last week. The Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for Malaria in Africa, and first ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, is the first African woman to receive the award. UKZN said Anthony, the author of The Elephant Whisperer, had travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo in an attempt to save the northern white rhino from extinction, and had formed the first SPCA in Iraq.Mamdani, of Uganda, would be recognised for his contribution “in reclaiming Africa’s contribution to the global knowledge project and in knowledge generation in and of Africa”, the university said.Gcabashe, from KZN, has distinguished herself through contributions to youth development and society at large, in religion, poverty alleviation and community health.In 2009 she received the Order of the Baobab (Silver) for her “selfless and courageous” service and her “sterling dedication to women’s empowerment and commitment to the development of education for the rural and disadvantaged communities”. - The Mercury view more

Highlights of this year’s White Mountain Folk Festival plus what some people had to say about the family-friendly event.< p> view more

London-listed Tullow Oil has signed two production-sharing agreements with Uganda, allowing it to complete a deal with China's CNOOC and France's Total that will pave the way for commercial oil production. Ugandan Energy Minister Irene Muloni said on Friday Tullow had agreed to the construction of a refinery - a key sticking point in talks as the companies had wanted to export the crude. view more

The world's largest integrated producer of manganese, Samancor, has permanently stopped production of energy intensive silica manganese at its Metalloys plant in Meyerton near Johannesburg. The company, which is 60% owned by mining major BHP Billiton, stated that the reduced manganese alloy production capacity would be replaced by the end of the calendar year, following the completion of a new $100-million ferro manganese furnace. view more

South Africa on Friday formalised a R350-million economic aid agreement with Cuba. At a ceremony in Pretoria, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies and Cuba's ambassador to South Africa, Angela Villa, signed a document that both said was aimed at stimulating trade between the two countries. view more

South Africa denied on Friday it had been pressured by MTN Group into backing Tehran's nuclear programme and aiding its military when the Johannesburg-based mobile operator was bidding for a telephone licence in Iran. "South Africa's foreign policy is independent and it cannot be influenced by anyone," Foreign Ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said. view more

Construction development company Business & Marketing Intelligence (BMI) Building Strategy Research Unit principal consultant Dr Llewellyn Lewis has called on the Competition Commission to reverse its decision to prohibit the centralised publication of cement use statistics. The commission, in its cement producer Afrisam cement cartel ruling, in November, noted cement producers Afrisam, Pretoria Portland Cement, Lafarge Industries South Africa and Natal Portland Cement Cimpor submitted sales information to the Cement and Concrete Institute for South Africa (C&CI) and used the aggregated information received from the C&CI as a mechanism for maintaining a cement market share cartel. view more

British-based maritime services company Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) and Singapore-based enterprise Vessel Protection Solutions (VPS) have unveiled a partnership to provide shipowners and operators with the means to protect their ships and crews from pirate attacks. The companies will be able to supply their clients with fully certified protection systems, designed to neutralise small arms - including assault rifles - and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire. view more

Malawi is finalising a review of the concession of the country's rail operator, Central East African Railways (CEAR), to ensure the company, which has incorporated Brazilian mining giant Vale Emirates as a major shareholder, is entirely responsible for the operation, maintenance and development of the railway network in the country. Malawi Privatisation Commission CEO Jimmy Lipunga says the review process is being undertaken in line with the recommendations of Indian consulting firm Crisil Infrastructural Advisory Consultants, which carried out a due diligence review of the concession with funding from the Southern African Development Community Banking Association. Crisil's study identified weaknesses that needed to be dealt with, taking into account international best practice in the rail sector. view more

South Africa's revised Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act rules are a step in the right direction in the country's efforts to revive its flagging manufacturing sector. But it will need to be tied to a number of other strategies, as it will be inadequate on its own to ensure reindustrialisation, says Manufacturing Circle chairperson Stewart Jennings. The revised regulations became effective on December 7, 2011, and enable the Department of Trade and Industry to designate sectors and products for local procurement. The first designations, made that month, included power pylons, rolling stock, buses, canned vegetables, clothing, textiles, footwear, leather products and set-top boxes. view more

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