Health Department in hot water, and Joburg building fire investigation
·16 Oct 2024
Here’s what is happening in and affecting South Africa today:
- Department of Health’s ‘irregular’ multimillion-rand contract flagged: The Auditor-General has flagged the Department of Health for irregularly awarding a R122-million contract to Brainwave Projects SA for satellite internet at health facilities. The contract bypassed legal procedures and regulations. Brainwave had previously tried to bill the department for work done through its foreign tech partner via the Department of Communications and Digital Technology (DCDT) but was unsuccessful. [Daily Maverick]
- Joburg fire inquiry resumes: The Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into the fire at the Usindiso building in Johannesburg’s CBD is set to resume today. The commission was established to investigate the deaths of 77 people in a fire at the hijacked building in August last year. In May, the inquiry determined that the City of Johannesburg and its entities were responsible for the tragic loss of life. [SABC]
- Former Defence Minister back in Court: Former Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who faces 12 charges of corruption and one of money laundering, is back in court. The former Defence Minister is accused of receiving kickbacks during her time in office. [eNCA]
- Flags at half mast for Mboweni: President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered that all South African flags be flown at half-mast in tribute to former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni. Mboweni will be laid to rest this weekend in Limpopo, his home province, with a Special Official Funeral (Category 2) in his honour. [IOL]
- Markets: South Africa’s rand showed little change on Tuesday following the release of a local business confidence index and the central bank’s bi-annual Monetary Policy Review. On Wednesday (16 October), the rand was trading at R17.62 to the dollar, R23.03 to the pound, and R19.19 to the euro. Oil is trading at $74.52 a barrel. [Reuters]
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