Ordinary courage propels us from silence to justice
The brutal assassination of Babita Deokaran was not an isolated crime. It was a symptom. A loud alarm in a system where corruption is not criminal aberration but an ecosystem
PPE
Covid-19 corruption-busting judge is the new Special Tribunal president
Judge Lebogang Modiba, who has seized more than R500-million in alleged PPE graft, replaces Judge Mlindelwa Gidfonia Makhanya
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
Babita Deokaran: an obstacle for the corrupt
The family of health department employee Babita Deokaran are devastated at her assassination, but proud of her role as a ‘hero’ in exposing corruption
Government fails to act on officials implicated in R3bn SIU recommendations
Half of the 127 managers incriminated in gross procurement corruption have yet to be disciplined
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
Feud between Cele and Sitole ‘undermines’ crime fighting
Minister’s ‘interference’ said to undermine SAPS’ restructuring and the filling of 160 000 posts
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
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.
Masuku’s statement about SIU ‘misleading’
SIU spokesperson says it successfully argued to the high court that Bandile Masuku failed to exercise his responsibility oversight at the Gauteng health department
Masuku loses appeal against SIU report on Covid graft
The judge found that when news of improprieties were brought to his attention, Masuku did not take steps to urgently intervene
Corona waste is harming animals, everywhere
Single-use PPE, such as face masks and gloves, is hurting and killing wildlife and pets around the globe
Volunteers on the Covid frontline
Community healthcare workers are at the coalface in the battle against Covid-19 – and by offering primary healthcare to the poor – but they can barely afford to replace their well-worn shoes
Vandals and storms damage schools, says education department
Learners will be moved to other schools and into mobile classrooms
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.
Déjà vu as time runs out for schools to get PPE
The scenes from last year, when learners finally returned to school after the hard lockdown, are about to play themselves out again
Inside George Mukhari hospital’s second wave
The Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism and James Oatway visited George Mukhari academic hospital to document the second-wave realities experienced by doctors and nurses
We are staying on adjusted level three — Ramaphosa
Although South Africa’s variant of Covid-19 does not cause more severe illness, the country, according to the president, must be ‘diligent, vigilant and compliant’
PPE ‘proxy’ contract cancelled
The tender linked to Ramaphosa’s presidency has been cancelled by the special corruption court
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 reduce its debt
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 to cope
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 of Covid-19, as well as other diseases
Level one loading: Almost back to normal
President Cyril Ramaphosa announces South Africa will move to level one of lockdown on September 20 after nearly six months of restrictions on movement, trade, learning and socialising
Calls to cap Eskom tariff increases
The national energy regulator has been accused of not following its mandate to protect consumers by allowing above inflation electricity price hikes
PPE scandal takes the bread out of SMEs’ mouths
The Special Investigating Unit is probing contracts worth more than R5-billion, over corruption allegations regarding the procurement of goods and services needed for the government’s Covid-19 response
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 R10-billion spend
Health workers afraid of passing Covid to family
While nurses bear the brunt of the most psychologically affected of health workers, most are concerned about access to protective supplies
Covid-19 positive health workers accused of ‘carelessness’
Mediclinic workers say the company is not taking responsibility for a Covid-19 outbreak at a Pretoria hospital
Editorial: Combating Covid-19: ‘It is now in your hands’
Despite the destructive system created by politicians and corporations, we can show the power of community and humanity
SA accelerating towards virus peak without capacity, experts warn
Despite efforts to prepare for the worst, it is ‘very unlikely’ that hospitals will be able to cope with the onslaught of Covid-19 cases
Protective equipment for schools in KwaZulu-Natal goes ‘missing’
Without protective equipment, schools in uMlazi, Pinetown and Zululand won’t meet the already delayed deadline for reopening
Covid infections among health workers increasing in Eastern Cape
Health worker infections have risen to 170 at state and private hospitals and two healthcare staff succumb to the disease in a space of seven days
