MY SUBMISSIONS TO THE RSA GOVERNMENT RE: COVID-19 AND THE INTERNATIONAL PANIC ABOUT IT

I would like to hear from you. I was informed that there is indeed one country in the entire world that did not succumb to the international panic and that is Sweden [?] 

My RSA Government called on the citizens of SA to submit their views on the lockdown and I submitted this. There is a lot of other things that I did not mention for instance the carnage on our roads every Easter Holiday and Christmas holidays. Did the government shut the entire country down for that? Absolutely not. What about the unacceptable high incidence of murder and rape and domestic violence in the RSA? Did it shut the entire country down for that? You guessed it: definitely not! 

Dear Minister or whoever is in Charge

Herewith a short resume of my reactions and thought processes regarding the worldwide pandemic called covid-19.

1. Loss of life is always permanent, regrettable and  tragic. We have to look into ways and means to curtail it. And I hasten to add our scientists and other knowledgeable people are constantly doing exactly that and I laud them for it. Having said that, I do not for one moment relinquish my right to look at their findings and methods and to pass comments on it – most of it are common sense. Death is in final analysis absolutely inevitable and every single one of us will die sometime in the future – and the comfort is to be found in Jesus Christ alone.
2. I am of the view that there is a massive and unprecedented overreaction and hysteria to the worldwide pandemic called covid-19. The entire world is in a lockdown state – see the WHO map of the prevalence of the pandemic. In light of the prevalence and the statistics provided by the WHO of the pandemic it forces one to take a long hard look at the statistics and to draw the necessary inferences from that august body’s figures. I hasten to add that each and every argument advanced for the present state of worldwide affairs, were present with the previous scares such as the ebola virus, SARS virus aids virus. There are no new arguments that are advanced for the lockdown. Most of the arguments are emotional for instance simple hygiene such as washing your hands. That is how I grew up. But unfortunately that is not how a big percentage of the world’s populace grew up.
3. Before I engage with the information provided by the WHO I want to bring to your attention the following incongruencies in the enforcement of the lockdown in SA:
1. The sale of baby clothes were forbidden! I think that you are forced to agree with me that it was totally and utterly devoid of any rationality.
2. My wife informed me that some of her make-up materials were running low but the shops were forbidden to sell it. Is there any rationality in that prohibition? I think you are similarly forced to agree that it is totally and utterly devoid of any rationality.
3. I was informed that just a week prior to my submissions, people could still purchase children’s colouring books. All of a sudden that was also forbidden. There is also to my mind no rationality to that at all.
4. It brings me to my next point: The statistics and the maps provided by the WHO forces me to engage with it on an intellectual basis and I will set it out briefly, flawed as it is.
1. I do recommend you to listen/look at the youtube video clip of Lord Sumption in the UK and his views on the overreaction of his government to this pandemic – please click on this link. I am not going to paraphrase what the Law Lord said – he is capable to do that himself.
2. The Africa Union released a covid-19 situation report by region – I attach a photo of that hereto.
3. Prof Shabir Madhi, the previous head of NICD statements as are set out in his write up in Businesslive. Please click on the link provided. Similarly I am not going to set out what the learned professor himself stated except to highlight his concerns about the flawed models used by the Government of SA.
4. The WHO statistics for SA are attached hereto.
5. My argument is that having regard to the statistics in SA:
1. We have 4361 infected cases in SA. What is the percentage of that in relation to our population of roughly 59 million people? The answer is negligibly small namely 0.007%.
2. We have 86 confirmed deaths, lamentable as it is,  but in relation to the population figures? Even much, much smaller: 0.00014%
6. If we take the worldwide figures into account it is also a cause for concern: There are about 300 000 deaths, lamentable as it is, in relation to 7.7 billion people. Percentage: 0.0038%
7. My conclusion: I submit that not only our Government but the entire world’s overreaction is inexplicable. We have however this unfortunate situation and I submit you should take it into account when you make your regulations – I recommend a massive re-think and re-evaluation of the situation.

I thank you and “sterkte” with you massive task ahead.

Neels Coertse

Prokureur & Notaris / Attorney & Notary

48 Middle Road, Morningside 26, Sandton 2196

P.O Box 782063, Sandton 2146

Tel: 011 783 2248

Fax: 086 645 9618

Cell: 084 456 1030

Email: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za

You are invited to visit my Blog

Please visit my Facebook page

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Why be invisible? Start writing.

Prof Jordan Peterson

How dare I write on such a subject? There are more people better qualified to do this than I – or are there? I don’t think so – because if some else writes this, then it is not me that did it and it will be that other person’s voice and definitely not mine. So, I have to write this – and I am sure that Prof. Dr. Jordan Petersen [click on this link] will whole heartedly agree with me. He might not agree with me about the contents, but he will sure agree with me that it was imperative for me to have done it and not somebody else. Not even Jordan. Not so?

My short video of the Tugela River, Kwa Zula Natal

Northern Drakensberg, South Africa

And so it hits at my photography as well. Look at my short video of the Tugela River in Kwa-Zula Natal Northern Drakensberg that I took the other day. That is a scene not to be seen again because the river "flowed away" so to speak. And the clouds are no longer there. Enjoy it. 

Looking at my statistics I am satisfied that I have reached some people across the world – people that I could not reach in person. What is more they have read my blog write ups and probably gave it a thought. I recall a specific law professor of mine, was heavily criticised by the South African Supreme Court of Appeal for an article that he published in an esteemed law journal. I visited my professor in chambers and discussed this criticism – and I asked him how does he feel about such a stringent critique? Since then, his reply is somewhat of a guideline for me writing articles and even writing up this blog. He told me: “Neels, the wonderful thing about this is that there were a number of highly successful senior advocates and attorneys and a fair number of judges who read my article, thought about it and had to make up their minds about what to say about it. Isn’t that worthwhile?”

I do agree with my law professor. And Prof Jordan Peterson is also spot on.

Look what does my Statistics have to say about my blog as of 10 February 2020:

Pageviews by Countries 1199 Entry Pageviews United States 9 South Africa 3 Netherlands 2 Ukraine 2 India 1 Mexico 1 Philippines 1 Portugal 1 Russia 1 Timor-Leste 1

Pageviews by Browsers Entry Pageviews Chrome 19 (82%) Firefox 2 (8%) CriOS 1 (4%) Safari 1 (4%) 82.6%Firefox8.7%CriOS4.3%Safari4.3%Chrome82.6% Chrome 19 Firefox 2 CriOS 1 Safari 1 Pageviews by Operating Systems Entry Pageviews Windows 18 (78%) iPhone 2 (8%) Android 1 (4%) Macintosh 1 (4%) Unix 1 (4%) 78.3%iPhone8.7%Macintosh4.3%Unix4.3%Windows78.3% Windows 18 iPhone 2 Android 1 Macintosh 1 Unix 1

There was even someone in East Timor [here's a link to that far off country [here's is a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Timor] that had a look. I want to thank that person in East Timor and Russia and Portugal who had a look at my blog. Well, I ask you also to look at my gallery of photographs. I love photography. I hope that you enjoy my images.

I just learnt that Prof Jordan is in Russia for medical treatment. I pray that he will recover and that he and his family will be happily reunited while they support him to recover fully. To read about it and to listen to his very courageous daughter on YouTube click here.

May God bless you and heal Jordan Peterson completely.

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HLALANATHI - ZULU WORD FOR "COME STAY/SLEEP WITH US."

View of the amphitheater of the Drakensberg, Northern Drakensberg, Kwa-Zulu Natal

Hlalanathi - it is a Zulu word which means "come sleep/stay with us." It is a holiday resort with a lovely restaurant and a golf course.

My wife and I made our own long weekend and decided to spend time here and visiting brand new friends whom we met through our mutual love of photography. Photography! There is a magical device that you can hold in your one hand capturing a specific moment in your life; it is called "a camera." Of course you know that as well as I do. It still remains magic to me. In a fraction of a second, it captures a moment you will never ever relive or experience again.

It is like the Tugela river that I captured in my short video that you can enjoy. Well, all truth be told, as the English would say, it was the Tugela River in Kwa Zula Natal on 30 January 2020 at a specific moment in time. No one, that includes me, will ever be in a position to ever see the Tugela River as I saw it when I captured it; and while I was capturing it, it disappeared towards the ocean never to be found again. You can listen to the Tugela murmuring in the background. Susan Sontag was that philosopher that encapsulated these ideas of mine very succinctly- click on this link to read a bit about her.

The Tugela River is in a constant process of remaking itself every moment of the day and night. As I am sitting here in the silence of our chalet and while my dearest wife is sleeping, I can hear it distantly rumbling a bit louder than yesterday. The reason for that? Because it rained higher up in the dragon and the water level is somewhat higher than yesterday. And yet the very river that I am trying to capture, is disappearing downstream, so to speak. The mountains are constant. The river not.

The monochromatic image of the river and the dragon mountain as a backdrop is a creation of my own. Of course the scene does not look like that at all. Once again I was creating another picture in your mind. I personally like monochromatic images and always think of Ansell Adams and his iconic black and white images.

Having said that, I was privy today to a most spectacular scene where the dragon took centre stage. This scene is monochromatic! Deep dark clouds gathered, wind howling, trees bending in the wind, veld flowers flattened to  the ground - all of this with the sky turning black. The clouds were all shades of black! So, in a sense, my black and white image is not in toto unreal. It is in another sense a virtual reality shot of a most spectacular scene.

Please read Psalm 8. If you haven't got a Bible, I suggest that you get one. Come to think of it, it was written specifically for you and me

I will leave you to it to give your dreams of my story and my image, wings!

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KGOMOTSO - COMFORT & MERCY - MEN I MET TODAY IN CBD JOHANNESBURG

MR BHARAT - COBBLER 

PROTESTER: PARLIAMENT CAPE TOWN

FRIEND OF MY GARDENER

All of these men had an influence on my life in the past. Mr Bharat is a cobbler in a shopping centre in the basement of the luxurious centre. He is always friendly although I have not brought him any business at all. The protester I met outside Parliament in Cape Town protesting a certain cause. The friend of my gardener came to visit his friend when I took the photograph.

And today I met two other gentlemen in the CBD of Johannesburg that were a real blessing to me: The first guy was a humble parking assistant with the name of MERCY. Can you imagine to have mercy on the streets of Johannesburg, in the news it is a very violent city. And yet, here I met MERCY with a big humble smile attending my car while I was away doing my business at the Master of the High Court. 

Kgomotso sat next to me patiently waiting our turn to state our matter in front of the official. And we got chatting. He tells he cannot understand why people are atheists. He said: "Just look at a mountain. Can a man make it? No, he can't. Only God can do that." And he prays for his children telling them to walk the narrow path following Christ Jesus.

I was greatly comforted and had mercy coming my way in this very violent city of Johannesburg South Africa. 

I have to confess that I did not take photographs of either Mercy or Kgomotso. I do apologize to both Kgomotso and Mercy for not taking their photos. Will you keep these two guys in your thoughts and prayers please? Come to think of it, don'f forget the other three whose photos are published.

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WHAT DOES SARA WESSLIN AND HANNAH OF THE BIBLE HAVE IN COMMON?

SARA WESSLIN  

She is Skolt Sami a journalist and listed among the world's 100 most influential women. There are about 1200 Skolt Sámi living in the border areas between Finland, Russia and Norway. Not all speak the language. And she is actively pursuing to save her language from extinction. If you want to read about her click on this link. 

Hannah of the Bible was also a lonely women and barren at that. And that is the common thread between Sara Wesslin and Hannah: they are the lone ones not accepting their fate in life. Hannah started to pray. And the priest of the time thought that she was a drunkard and held her in contempt. But God in heaven did not think so and heard her cry and answered it. The prophet Samuel was born. There is a fascinating story written specially for you and me in the Bible: Read it in 1 Samuel chapter 3 and 4:1. See what happened. Before Samuel was born, the word of God was not heard often in the land. When he was born, things changed for the better. I encourage you to read it. If you don't have a Bible I really encourage you to go out and buy one and start reading it; therefore I am not going to provide you with a link to the Bible passage but earnestly encouraging you to get your own copy of the Bible.  

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NEW YEAR, NEW DECADE WAITING FOR US 2020: GRAPHIC IMAGES: WARNING

THE SAME MESSAGE FROM LAST DECADE?

NO - NOT SO! 

IT'S FOR 2020

I am still planting flowers and vegetables and tending my 5 hens for their eggs. Yes, they give me 4 - 5 eggs per day. I have just harvested just enough beans for supper tonight. My own homegrown beans from our garden. And I have legal work to do - I am still useful and required by clients to assist them with their legal problems. And I have not lost faith in Christ Jesus as my Savior and Lord of my life. 

I ended the past decade by visiting my friend - this friendship started 1966 in Roodepoort, Transvaal, South Africa. He now lives in Bethulie, Freestate, South Africa. My eldest daughter and I visited Johnny and his wife and had lunch with them. She is a good cook. His church needs a lot of tender loving care and I am in touch with his church leadership about it. You are right. I became an activist for better living conditions.

The Methodist Church, Kruger Street, Bethulie in need of repairs.

A refugee client of mine suffered a major setback - it seems as if his was attacked and his throat slit as well as his wrists. He is surviving. This is what he looked like when they found him

This is what he looked like on Christmas Day when they found him.

No, the sad story does not end there. It turned out beautifully. Look at his birthday party in hospital. He is alive and getting there.

His birthday party in Hospital.

Yes, I have enough things that will keep me crying all the time. And enough to cause me to loose my faith in the living Christ Jesus. I have, however chosen Him and He is my Creator and Savoir.

I have created a Blue Monster from cardboard boxes. A fun project.

The blue monster completed.

Let us continue to worship and follow Jesus Christ. 

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THE CHRISTMAS STORY - ANIMATED BY MIHAIL ALDASHIN ROZHDESTVO

UNITED NATIONS - WORLD'S PEACE KEEPING FORCE

There are hundreds of animations on YouTube available. And more so with the Christmas theme of Christ being born in Bethlehem.

One of the best I have seen is by this Russian artist Mikhail Aldashin Rozhdestvo - and I give him all the credit I can muster for his wonderful creative spirit and I ask you to join me enjoying his viewpoint by clicking on this link.

Of course you cannot watch this YouTube video without having read the story of the birth of Christ in the Scriptures at the Gospel according to Matthew at chapters 1 - 2, Luke chapter 1 and then about the peace the He brought into this world. Not the peace the world gives, but His peace which is materially different from the world's peace idea - please click on this link for the story in Matthew. You will see it starts off with a genealogy of Christ - I suggest that each one of us can relate to this list because each of us have some relatives that are not to be too proud about. Nevertheless, He was born into this world for me and for you. I have accepted Him as my Saviour and I trust that you have as well, alternative please consider making Him your King and Lord. If you have for some reason shrugged Him off your life, please consider inviting Him again.

May you have a blessed Christmas.

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