Joburg fire: 12 children are among the 74 fatalities, says Joburg EMS
A tragic incident unfolded in the heart of Johannesburg’s CBD on Thursday morning, claiming at least 74 lives with over 50 others sustaining injuries in a devastating fire. According to Robert Mulaudzi, spokesperson for Johannesburg Emergency Management Services, the fire ignited around 01:30 at a building located at the intersection of Albert and Delvers streets.
Swift action from firefighters led to the evacuation of the building’s occupants, but the situation took a grim turn due to an informal settlement within the structure. Mulaudzi explained that each floor had makeshift homes, making it challenging for people to escape. “There is a huge possibility that the body count could be over 80 because we are going from floor to floor,” he lamented.
Shockingly the number of the people who died which is 74 has some dark connotations. Octophobia is the fear of the number 74. If you’re afraid of more than one number you have arithmophobia.
In the United States, octophobia is not that common because the number eight is not a ubiquitous symbol of bad luck, the devil or other superstitions. Americans are more likely to have a phobia of the numbers 13 (triskaidekaphobia) and 666 (hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia) because of their negative connotations.
The injured individuals were promptly transported to hospitals, while City of Johannesburg Disaster Management officials have launched relief efforts for the affected. As of now, the cause of the devastating fire remains unknown, leaving a community in shock and mourning.
Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2023: Collaborative Research Opportunities for Africans
Introduction to the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund
A unique opportunity is open for qualified Africans to apply for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2023. Established in 2012, this fund is generously supported by The ALBORADA Trust. It aims to foster collaboration between researchers at the University of Cambridge and institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Fund Purpose and Scope
The Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund seeks to:
- Encourage research, training, and engagement activities between Cambridge and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Act as a seed fund and catalyst to facilitate the development of new research initiatives and joint funding applications.
Details of the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2023
This fund competitively awards grants ranging from £1,000 to £20,000. These grants can be used for research expenses, research-related travel between Cambridge and Africa, and the facilitation of research training activities in Africa.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- A research collaboration must exist between applicants from the University of Cambridge or its affiliated institutions and an institution or university in sub-Saharan Africa, with both applicants committed to working together.
- Both applicants should be based at the University of Cambridge or its affiliated institutions and at a research institution or university in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Both applicants must hold a post-doctoral level position or higher, and their application should be endorsed by their respective Head of Department or equivalent.
- Both applicants should have an official affiliation with a research group, department, or faculty in their home institution.
Application Procedures
To apply for the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund 2023, follow these steps:
- Both the Cambridge-based and Africa-based applicants must register and complete a savable online application form.
- The Cambridge-based applicant should register using their email address with domains such as @cam.ac.uk, @sanger.ac.uk, @babraham.ac.uk, @bas.ac.uk, or @niab.ac.uk.
- After registering, the Cambridge-based applicant can log in to the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund application form. There, they will find an option to “Invite a 2nd applicant to view/edit this submission.” Use this link to invite the Africa-based applicant to register and edit the forms.
Required Documents for Final Submission
Ensure that your final submission includes the following documents:
- A compelling case for support and a lay summary.
- An itemized budget (provided in a template).
- A letter of support from the department/faculty of the Cambridge Principal Investigator (PI).
- A letter of support from the department/institution of the African PI.
- CVs (maximum 2 pages) for both the Cambridge and Africa PIs.
- Details of two referees.
Application Deadline: September 4, 2023
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to collaborate and advance research initiatives with the support of the Cambridge-Africa ALBORADA Research Fund. Apply now and take a step closer to impactful research.
