Daily news update: Zuma ‘fit for trial’, and Sassa SRD grant available from PnP

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NPA doctors say Zuma is fit to stand trial

Jacob Zuma’s health is once again the subject of much debate in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday morning, after it was revealed that the NPA’s medical team believes he is medically fit to stand trial and the state indicated that it had subpoenaed his medical records.

The former president’s legal team under the lead of Advocate Dali Mpofu failed to answer Judge Piet Koen’s questions about Zuma’s absence, insisting that Zuma has indicated the trial may proceed without in his absence.

Nersa approves three generating licences for Karpowership SA

South Africa’s energy regulator on Tuesday approved generating licenses for three controversial floating power plants, stoking environmental concerns as Africa’s most industrialised nation grapples with electricity shortages.

Turkey-based Karpowership, one of the world’s largest floating power plant operators, in March won a government tender to supplement South Africa’s fragile electricity supply with gas-to-power projects at three ports.

SIU freezes R8 million held by firms hired to refurbish AngloGold hospital

The Special Tribunal has granted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) an order to freeze R7.9 million held in bank accounts of companies that were irregularly awarded tenders by the Gauteng health department to refurbish the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Hospital near Carletonville for Covid-19 purposes.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago on Tuesday said the order against Pro Serve Consulting and Thenga Holdings was granted on Friday by Judge Lebogang Modiba.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura opened the multimillion-rand 181-bed hospital in May with great fanfare. But the facility has remained largely unused and has treated very few Covid-19 patients after the provincial government controversially used R500 million from Covid funds to refurbish the hospital.

Here are the latest rewards for vaccinated South Africans

As the weather turns, South Africans seem keener to get off of the couch and explore the country with more vigour than ever before.

Still, others are reluctant to travel due to so many citizens being uncertain about the Covid-19 vaccine, waiting it out. Various destinations have now started offering soft incentives to those making an effort to flatten the Covid-19 curve.

The South African government has been in talks about soft incentives for vaccinated South Africans and many companies and brands already offer South African citizens who have been vaccinated discounts, free treatments or vouchers.

Department of Justice refutes claim it paid hackers R33 million ransom

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has rebuffed rumours that hackers demanded a R33 million ransom following a ransomware attack earlier this month.

According to the report, hackers allegedly encrypted all information on the department’s electronic system, including backups, and demanded a ransom be paid – an allegation the department has strongly denied.

“The [department] would like to place it on the record that it has not received any ransom demand following the ransomware attack as suggested by an article published on 20 September 2021.”

Sassa SRD grant: You can now collect your R350 from PnP and Boxer. Here’s how