Covid19 will be remembered by most throughout the world as a nightmare that they very much want to forget, because of the great harm it caused.

Locally, many families have been torn apart, due to the sudden deaths of dear ones, at times even two or three in a family succumbing to this dreadful virus.

Many locals who were admitted to ICU’s are yet to recover fully from the effects of the virus, despite being subsequently discharged from hospital. Lockdowns have also seen businesses failing and unemployment increasing. Even schools and universities have been disrupted due to the pandemic.

The positive side of the pandemic, (if one can call it that), is that communities were united in helping those who tested positive and their families, as the families had to quarantine as a unit, due close to contact with each other. Locally, many volunteer groups were formed to assist those in need, with oxygen concentrators, drips, and medication and even assisted in doing their shopping. There were various women’s groups providing free food, including soup, to families who were under quarantine. Councillor Naeem Patel who was a volunteer with the LCC group, assisted about a thousand Covid patients over a period, with his wife Somayya also assisting.

During August this year, a Covid-19 vaccine drive-through programme started at the Zwartkops Racetrack, near Laudium, under the auspices of being a community initiative, which was supported by the Gauteng Department and the local Laudium Disaster Management (LDM). There was widespread praise for the project which was run along similar lines as the Houghton Mosque Covid drive-through Vaccine Project. Volunteers from the community were asked to assist at Zwartkop and they did so in numbers, with doctors, nurses, paramedics and other members of the community assisting. The project saw many local organisations sponsoring items required to make the project a success and indeed it was, as at least 25 000 people were vaccinated there. Gauteng Premier, David Makhura and his team often visited the vaccine site, despite the Premier’s busy schedule. The Premier praised the community, more so the volunteers, for their unselfish efforts in making the vaccine site a success. However, of late the Laudium Sun has been asked by a number of our concerned readers, to investigate whether any of the volunteers or those who initiated or assisted with the project, or their families or friends, benefited financially in any way whatsoever from the project. This follows allegations floating around that certain people had made money out of this project. The Laudium Sun contacted a number of people involved in the community project, who stated that whilst they had heard allegations about some people making money out of the project, they had no proof confirming it. Director of the Zwartkop Raceway, Attorney Wahab Jaffer told the Laudium Sun, “I had arranged for our premises near the racetrack to be used free of charge for this Covid-19 drive-through project, as I was told that it was being done as a community project, with no self-gain, which I thus supported. I just heard last week of figures of about R6 – R7m apparently made on this project, but I cannot confirm this. If anyone has made money out of this project, then certainly the community has been misled. Besides, then we would have definitely charged the organisers to use the premises, instead of giving it to them free of charge. I think an enquiry would be the best, as it would settle the matter and not unnecessarily tarnish the reputation of all the good people who freely gave of their time to make the project a success”. Councillor Naeem Patel, told the Laudium Sun, “I have heard allegations that certain people have made money out of this project, but I am not sure. I personally know of many good men and women who volunteered in this vaccine drive project, and I can vouch that they have not received any money. Thus, an investigation into this matter will be best, so that any doubts can be cleared up.” 

Veteran doctor, Dr Sattar Aboobaker, who sacrificed his time at the site by assisting with vaccinations told the Laudium Sun, “I can tell you that the volunteers I know, did it with their heart and did not receive a cent. There were sponsors who paid for the food and other necessary items, but none of us got paid. In fact, sometimes we would buy food for the student volunteers. This project was ‘by the community for the community.’” Ebrahim Dockrat of the LDM told the Laudium Sun, “I have heard allegations that certain people have made money out of this vaccine project, but I can assure you that neither our organisation nor our members have benefitted financially from it”. The Laudium Sun was informed that one of the very active volunteers, Fatima Juma, a laser hair removal specialist could possibly shed more light regarding the finances of the project, however attempts to contact her were futile. The Laudium Sun, in the interest of transparency and public accountability and in order to keep the honor of the innocent volunteers intact, decided to approach Mahier Tayob of Tayfin Forensics to assist in this matter. Mahier responded by saying, “This matter is definitely of public interest and therefore we will investigate it. It is important that the good name of the hundreds of innocent volunteers that were involved does not get tarnished. If it is found during our investigations, that certain people did benefit financially, we will then decide how to take the matter forward from a legal point of view. We have to first test the veracity of the allegations. I urge all those who can shed light on these allegations, to contact my office at forensic@tayfin.co.za. All information received will be kept confidential.”