The Daily News in Durban

Thought it might be interesting to post a few articles from the last week's papers.....

New minimum wages
The monthly minimum wage for a domestic worker (translated maid or gardener) who works more than 27 ordinary hours a week sits at $213 per month this year. (The going rate for a day's work is the equivalent of $12.)

In the wholesale and retail sector wages have gone up to $668.24 per month for an assistant manager, a cashier should now earn $389.46 per month, a clerk $461.74 and a displayer $479.48 per month.

A truck driver qualifies for a minimum wage range of $351.84 to $510.84. A forklift operator's wage is $334.94 and a general assistant must earn at least $318.88. A manager must earn at least $728.65. A security guard is $318.88, a sales person is $461.74. A supervisor's minimum wage is $565.81 and a trainee manager at $610.24.

My comments:
This is really eye opening if you look at the numbers. The cost for these people to take the taxi to their job is about $3 a day. Most live in a township where there is no electricity or they "borrow" it from someone's line. There's also pay-as-you-go-electricty for those who have a bit more funds. These townships provide a water spicket on most streets that provide free water. Food costs are about the same as the U.S., except for meat which is about 1/3 the cost of U.S. prices. Most zulu folks are lucky if they eat 2 meals a day. Staples are white bread, "mealie" meal (corn meal), beans, tomatoes, potatoes, long life milk, rooibos tea and instant coffee. Clothing here is similar in cost to the U.S.- you have your Wal-mart prices, your Dillard's prices and your Saks Fifth Avenue prices. Rent for a room runs about $25 a month.

Croc scare on Dusi Route

A father and son paddling pair had a close call with a crocodile above Blue Lagoon in Durban last Thursday. Graeme and his son Grant were practicing for the Unlimited Dusi (a canoe race) on the Umgeni river. "When we put the boat into the water at Kingfisher Canoe Club at Blue Lagoon, I jokingly said to my son we should be careful in case the crocodiles got hold of us. There is a sign warning paddlers to be aware of crocodiles. Little did I know what would happen a while later."

The duo were training some 500m below the N2 Highway, which crosses Blue Lagoon on the Unlimited Dusi "Grant put his paddle into the water on the right hadn side of the boat when he felt it hit something hard which was submerged below the surface. To his horror it was a big crocodile. The croc thrashed in the water right next to the boat as it tried to get away. It went underneath our boat and knocked it hard. Thank God it didn't knock us out of the boat." said Graeme. Graeme has completed 21 Dusi marathons and Grant 12. "This has got to be the biggest fright we have ever had on the river."

Organisers of the Dusi have been in contact with the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife who are attempting to catch three reptiles that have been spotted in Blue Lagoon. Authorities have said to us it is unlikely crocodiles would harm a paddler. Having said that, after this incident, we have asked for efforts to catch and relocate the crocs to be stepped up, said a spokesman for the organisers. A hotline has been opened for others to report any sightings and you can go to the website here.