Strike alert in Joburg and R3 billion lost to corruption at major hospital

Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:

• Alert for resurgence of Joburg strike: The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) is on high alert for a possible revival of a mass strike by South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) members. On Thursday, roughly 10,000 City of Johannesburg employees affiliated with Samwu halted traffic on the M1 and M2 highways in Braamfontein and the Johannesburg CBD, demanding R10.3 million in back payments from 2016. [The Citizen]

• R3 billion loss at Tembisa Hospital: Today marks three years since whistleblower Babita Deokaran, a senior manager in the Gauteng Health Department, was assassinated for flagging tender and PPE corruption at Tembisa Hospital. News24 investigations show that the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) investigators have tracked taxpayer losses to Tembisa Hospital corruption networks to as much as R3 billion. This represents a 250% escalation from the R850 million in “possibly fraudulent transactions” she flagged and reported three weeks before her murder in 2021. [News24]

• Acting magistrate who dismissed Koko’s corruption case off the bench: An acting Mpumalanga magistrate who struck the R2.2 billion Kusile fraud and money laundering case involving former Eskom boss Matshela Koko and members of his family off the roll has not had his contract renewed. The acting magistrate was cast in the spotlight recently when the NPA announced that it had reported him to the magistrates commission for possible conflict by presiding over the case. He lost his acting magistrate job when his contract expired. [Times Live]

• R180 billion lottery tender attracts controversy: Facing a tight deadline for a new National Lottery license, concerns linger over the controversial R180 billion tender process. Build One SA queried Minister Parks Tau on these issues. As the term for the current operator, Ithuba, nears its end, they seek renewal amid criticisms of the consulting appointments of board members, considering their non-specialist status. [City Press]

• Markets: The rand slipped against a stronger dollar on Thursday as investors awaited hints from the US Fed on the future interest rate path of the world’s biggest economy. On Friday (23 August), the rand was trading at R17.97 to the dollar, R23.52 to the pound, and R20 to the euro. Oil is trading at $77.33 a barrel. [Reuters]