Sunday Independent Sunday, December 13, 2020

CORRUPTION SIU goes for dodgy PPE tenders The unit hails its court victory against Royal Bhaca as an important milestone MANYANE MANYANE BUOYED by a “great victory” in which a judge confirmed its findings and set aside a multimillion-rand Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) contract, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has vowed to press ahead with current investigations and recover all the money illegally received by the beneficiaries. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the judgment against a front company for Royal Bhaca – owned by the husband of presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko’s husband, Chief Madzikane II Thandisiwe Diko – was an important milestone for the SIU in its fight against tender irregularities and malfeasance. “This is the first judgment around the PPE contracts. It is a great victory for us…

TRIBUNAL Deliberations on Hlope’s conduct, remarks DON MAKATILE don.makatile@inl.co.za AFTER a week-long deliberation it would appear the 12-year-old case against Judge John Hlophe will finally be brought to a close by the Judicial Conduct Tribunal that was set up in 2013 to probe the matter. Held over five days last week at the Premier Hotel, OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, east of Joburg, the tribunal conducted hearings on the complaint lodged by Justices of the Constitutional Court against Hlophe, President of Western Cape Division of the High Court. On Friday, parties on both sides of the matter made their closing arguments at the tribunal. Judge President Hlophe faces a charge of gross misconduct after he’d met with two Judges of the Constitutional Court – Justice Chris Jafta and…

The Brief XI DISAPPOINTS AS LEADERS MAKE MODEST PLEDGES World leaders and corporate bosses are setting out what they will do to slow global warming -- from emissions cuts to measures to force financial disclosure. So far, it’s been incremental measures only, and China disappointed. That doesn’t bode well for the next round of climate talks next year in Glasgow, Scotland. The summit was seen as an opportunity to build momentum into 2021 when incoming U.S. President Joe Biden plans to rejoin the Paris deal and set a net-zero goal. Bloomberg…

AMENDMENT BILL Put SA jobseekers first – IFP LOYISO SIDIMBA FOREIGN nationals could be barred from working in some unskilled and semi-skilled jobs in some sectors of the South African economy, according to a proposed Employment Services Amendment Bill to be tabled by the IFP. IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe will table new legislation that proposes, among others, that employers may not employ a foreign national in the country without an applicable and valid work visa and ensuring that the numerical target prescribed by Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has been reached. According to the IFP’s proposed Bill employers may hire foreign nationals only after satisfying themselves that there is no other person in South Africa with suitable skills to fill that vacancy. “An employer may make use…

LITIGATION Police boss to face court Suspended crime intelligence officers to challenge national police commissioner Sitole BULELWA PAYI SUSPENDED crime intelligence top brass are headed to court to challenge the National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole. A reliable source has told our sister publication, the Weekend Argus, that the six officers in the crime intelligence division were expected to mount a high court action against Sitole. This followed Sitole’s suspension of crime intelligence head Peter Jacobs. Major-General Josias Lekalakala, Brigadier Deon Lombard, and Colonels Waljee, Gopal, and Matamela, in defiance of a directive from Minister Bheki Cele. The source said he feared Sitole might come out “seriously bruised” from the court challenge as there was no merit in his action and it lacked any legal standing. “In terms of SAPS…

LABOUR Losi post sparks call for change Cosatu president wants cultural practices to be accommodated in place of work LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za COSATU president Zingiswa Losi has caused some murmurings following a Facebook post urging African cultures and customs to be accommodated in the workplace when it comes to taking leave days. Losi charged in the post widely circulated on social media that “may we as workers in our country begin to have a conversation about leave days that will accommodate us when we must perform our ancestral/culturalritual/illness from your calling that medical doctors can’t cure. “These are not accommodated under family responsibility leave or any other leave, but Western responsibilities are recognised” she posted on Facebook on Monday. “I’m grateful to my ancestors for the spiritual awakening they have…