Safety concerns arise as the country opens up and returns to some sense of normalcy
Stacey Norman speaks out on "what's going on in her backyard"...
After two years of restrictions and lockdowns, a few weeks ago the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, announced that South Africans would no longer be required to wear a face mask indoors.
Read More: South Africans finally wave goodbye to face masks
As expected, the news was met with some mixed reactions. Some South Africans were relieved, some indifferent, and some were concerned at the announcement that seemingly happened quietly overnight with no pre-warning.
Read More: ECR'S Top 5: Here's what to do with your face masks now!
With further adjustments to the COVID-19 regulations, this past weekend the country witnessed a full-capacity in-person Hollywoodbets Durban July event.
The event was the first since the advent of the pandemic two years ago, over 30,000 people gathered to enjoy the hugely popular horse racing affair. Stacey and J Sbu were among the attendees who showed up dressed to impress.
Read More: Revealed! Here's what Stacey and J Sbu wore to the Durban July
As exciting as the festivities and the glitz and glamour were for KZN’s favourite duo, it seems that the enormity of the occasion may have been a little too much with all the after-parties emerging.
Stacey decided to opt out of the jol after the main event and decided to have an early night back home. As she lay in bed reflecting on all the faces that she was so happy to be reunited with after what felt like forever under the COVID-19 regulations, a story that had made the news in her community WhatsApp group came to mind...
This incident in Chartwell, which is literally my backyard, is so distressing and heart-breaking to hear. These are scary situations young ladies are facing and no one is speaking up.
This reaction is in reference to a current uMhlanga rape case investigation that is currently ongoing
Stacey further mentions: "This is by no means the first time something like this has happened. The sheer excitement of being able to finally leave the house is very strong. We deserve to go out and have a nice time. This shouldn't be a conversation about what women wear or how they are supposed to act, but rather being able to operate in the world that we live in at the moment."
Earlier this year, Stacey profiled a story that was not new in South Africa - an incident that had sent chills down her spine as a frequent user of car e-hailing services.
LISTEN: Heightened safety concerns over lift platform horror stories
So, as the country heads back to ‘business as usual’, it may be time to share a few safety tips for men, women, and parents who attend gatherings day or night.
- Safety in numbers
- Pre-arrange lifts
- Drink in moderation and watch your drink
- Keep your valuables hidden
- Stay in well-lit areas
- Have a buddy-system
- Tell someone where you are
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