The storm was unusually violent by Cape Town standards. Pop star Michael Jackson will present a cheque made out to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund to Nelson Mandela himself. The awards will be telecast to a potential audience of 350 million across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Featured stars will include South African Brenda Fassie and the Democratic Republic of Congo's Bisso Na Bisso. Rangers and farmers are being urged to vaccinate their livestock to prevent an epidemic of the fatal bacterial disease.
Anthrax affects all mammals, including humans, though some species are more vulnerable than others.
The National Park experienced major epidemics in the early 60s, early 70s and early 90s. Visitors to the park are not at risk of contracting the disease unless they handle or eat infected animals. About 7000 demonstrators assembled on the weekend outside an African Game Services farm to protest the ill-treatment of 14 baby elephants from Botswana. South African television broadcast footage last week of the elephants being whipped while training for circus-ring duties. The animals were being prepared for sale to circuses and zoos.