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Redundant: Many things can be disposed of. Masks have gone; hopefully corrupt officials will go soon. Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/AFP

The gloves (and masks) are off

Facemaskpreneurs and state capture agents are the only ones unhappy about Wednesday’s dual announcements

Hamilton Ndlovu.

Special Tribunal dismisses Hamilton Ndlovu’s application to stay a review of PPE contracts awarded to him

Judge Lebogang Modiba was not persuaded by Ndlovu’s claim that the refusal of the stay application would violate his constitutional right of access to the courts

Hamilton Ndlovu.

SIU shuts down Hamilton Ndlovu’s spending spree by seizing his assets

The businessman used just 13% of the millions paid to him by the National Health Laboratory Service to supply PPE — the rest was for himself

President Cyril Ramaphosa accompanied by his former spokesperson Khusela Diko. (Elmond Jiyane/GCIS)

Wanted: A new spindoctor for Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa is said to be looking for someone who can bridge the gap between his office and the media.

Former Gauteng premier David Makhura, who runs the ANC political school, said there was a need for the party to both educate its existing members and ensure that those who joined in future were “in good standing in the community”.

Makhura’s ‘unlawful’ directive caused Gauteng R42.8m in losses, says former CFO

A March 2020 directive from the Gauteng premier is at the centre of an SIU civil case to recover money lost due to alleged unlawful procurement

The service provider, LNG, has been ordered to pay back the profit earned from the R113.2 million PPE contract

PPE graft involving R332m claims another Gauteng scalp

Gauteng health chief director Thandiwe Pino has been axed for her role in awarding ‘irregular contracts’

Police Minister Bheki Cele and national police commissioner Khehla Sitole have insisted that harsh public scrutiny and unclear mandates are inhibiting the ability of law enforcement personnel to execute their duties. (Jaco Marais)

Feud between Cele and Sitole ‘undermines’ crime fighting

Minister’s ‘interference’ said to undermine SAPS’ restructuring and the filling of 160 000 posts

A cancer patient receives treatment.

Public protector’s probes highlight crumbling Eastern Cape hospitals

Seventeen investigative reports, undertaken by Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s office, detail gross negligence and maladministration in government structures

(Lisa Skinner)

Third wave overwhelms Gauteng hospitals

Surpassing previous Covid-19 waves the third is sure to hit harder, yet there is little evidence of a move toward tighter regulations.

Count them: Special Investigating Unit head Andy Mothibi. (Paul Botes)

SIU to beef up security after investigators threatened during PPE probe

The Special Investigating Unit found that companies were awarded tenders despite not qualifying for the contracts.

The service provider, LNG, has been ordered to pay back the profit earned from the R113.2 million PPE contract

SIU to recoup some of the R13.3bn spent on corrupt PPE contracts

Criminal prosecution and civil litigation of more than R250-million is being sought against those who unduly benefited from Covid-19-related procurement

The treasury’s relaxation of procurement rules will allow the state utility to attend to its ageing power stations far quicker (Paul Botes/M&G)

Social partners at Nedlac agree to help to turn Eskom around

The government’s partners at Nedlac have signed a social impact agreement to support the power utility, with a particularly focus on assisting it in accessing new capital to…

At work: Gontlafetse Leinane (45) sprays hand sanitiser on community healthcare workers in Pudumong. (Photos: Gulshan Khan)

The quiet front line battle of South Africa’s rural nurses

The focus may have been on urban nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic, but those in rural areas suffer similar fates. However, very little is known about how they have been able…

There is a sanitation crisis In numerous informal settlements around South Africa. Photo: Sewage waste. Delwyn Verasamy/M&G

Testing sewage: The Covid canary in our wastewater

Local scientists are using wastewater-based epidemiology to trace the SARS-CoV-2 virus in South Africa’s sewage system, which could act as an early warning system for outbreaks…

Wilful: Former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, who appeared in the Durban commercial crimes court on charges of corruption, and her supporters defied ANC resolutions. (Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)

More North West mayors face recall

The ANC is wielding its axe to clear out ineffective councillors and those facing criminal charges

Auditor general Kimi Makwetu.

Auditor general points to the state’s flaws enabling Covid-19 graft

AG Kimi Makwetu’s ‘real-time’ audit of contracts and relief schemes indicate ‘a higher risk of fraud and abuse of funds’

More than R10-billion has been spent on PPE. But healthcare workers say they are not getting enough masks and other gear to keep them safe from Covid-19.  (Photo by Phill Magakoe/AFP)

The PPE bonanza and how ‘flukes’ made people millions

More than R10-billion has been spent on PPE. But healthcare workers say they are not getting enough masks and other gear to keep them safe from Covid-19. Sarah Smit, Paddy Harper…

Much has been written about the pandemic’s impact on business and its role as a once-in-a-generation catalyst for accelerated digital transformation. Across the continent in enterprises large and small, and in every industry, business leaders have had to adapt with great urgency to survive the immediate disruption and ensure the long-term viability of their businesses.
 (Delwyn Verasamy)

African governments and the Covid-19 fallout

The “Covid-19 Kairos” has provided governments with the opportunity to leverage the pandemic to create comprehensive sustainable economic development policies for all Africans

Trade union federation Cosatu estimates that between R1-billion and R2-billion has been irregularly spent to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) since the start of the pandemic.

Cosatu proposes interventions to tackle Covid-19 procurement graft

In light of irregular spending on Covid-19 procurement, Cosatu recommends that politically connected people be barred from doing business with the state

Dondo Mogajane (left) and Tito Mboweni. (Photo by David Harrison)

The PPE scandal that the Treasury hasn’t touched

Many government officials have been talking tough about dealing with rampant corruption in PPE procurement but the majority won’t even release names of who has benefited from the…