ASSOCIATION NEWS
News snippets from around the world Committee looking into Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office to start its work in July
Zondo: Guptas bagged R15.5 billion in unlawful contracts, mostly from Eskom, Transnet The state capture commission of inquiry has found that the Gupta criminal enterprise benefitted by R15.5 billion from irregular and unlawful contracts. It, however, conceded in the final report published last Wednesday that the amount did not represent the full loss suffered by the state as a result of the Gupta-related capture. https://ewn.co.za/
Phone and SIM card change planned for South Africa The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has proposed tying the biometric data of South Africans to their SIM cards in a move to clamp down on fraudulent activity. In practice, this means that fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, retina scans and biometric data could all be tied to a person’s SIM card, and by extension, their phone number, which has led to concerns about increased surveillance and additional avenues for identity theft. https://businesstech.co.za/
Eskom security guards and taxi driver caught stealing cables Eskom has criticised two security guards that were contracted, and a taxi driver after they were caught in a mini bus full of copper cables at a warehouse in Germiston,
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SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA JUNE 2022
Gauteng. The incident reportedly happened on 18 June and all three were arrested. www.thesouthafrican.com/
Covid-19: mask rule may be gone, but Phaahla advises people to remain cautious For the first time in more than two years, South Africans are free to ditch their masks in public places, following the government’s repeal of all Covid-19 regulations last Thursday. People should, however, not be embarrassed to continue wearing masks, said Health Minister Joe Phaahla. www.news24.com/
South Africa ready to host events again, after remaining Covid-19 regulations scrapped South Africa’s interlinked tourism, hospitality, and events sectors are expected to boom on the back of government repealing the last remaining Covid-19 regulations. South Africa has no more regulations governing the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a repeal notice gazetted by Health Minister Joe Phaahla last Wednesday. Face masks are no longer required in public-use indoor spaces and on public transport. Travellers entering the country don’t have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and won’t need to produce a negative test result either. Social gatherings aren’t limited to certain numbers of attendees. www.businessinsider.co.za/
Parliament’s Section 194 enquiry committee into the fitness of nowsuspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to hold office, is expected to commence its work with witness statements on July 11. Mkhwebane was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa a few weeks ago, in accordance with guidelines set out in Section 194 of the Constitution. During the inquiry, Mkhwebane will be able to state her case and will also be entitled to legal representation. The chairperson of the committee, Richard Dyantyi, says the committee anticipates working until the end of September. www.sabcnews.com/
Zondo says Magashule, Zwane pushed ‘Gupta agenda’ with Vrede project, recommends criminal probe Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has recommended that former Free State premier Ace Magashule, ‘Gupta Minister’ Mosebenzi Zwane, and Tony Gupta be investigated over the Vrede dairy farm project, which he condemns as a ‘complete disaster’. He also suggested that they be sued to recover money lost as a result of their alleged conduct in relation to the alleged scam. Said Zondo: “Reading the perspective of beneficiaries, as presented in affidavits and oral evidence, one gets the impression that the locals were taken for a ride. They were duped… and persuaded to sell the cattle on the basis that the government would donate dairy cars to them, but that never happened. From this perspective, Estina used the fairytale Indian connection (Paras) to milk more than R250 million… from the government, which deliberately, or with gross negligence, blindly pumped money without asking questions or looking as to how it was spent.” www.news24.com/
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