Daily Podcast – January 10, 2022

10th January 2022 By: Thabi Shomolekae - Creamer Media Senior Writer

Daily Podcast – January 10, 2022

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: SAA board to investigate airline's past exposed by Zondo Commission; 4 482 new infections as death toll rises by 82; And, border vaccination sites to continue until Jan 15

 

SAA board to investigate airline's past exposed by Zondo Commission

The interim board of state-owned South African Airways says it intends to institute internal investigations and disciplinary processes with the aim of "cleaning the company of all vestiges of its shameful past" as exposed in the Zondo Commission's report.

Furthermore, in line with its fiduciary responsibility and legal obligations under the Public Finance Management Act, the board said that it will attempt to recover any assets lost or monies misappropriated from SAA. 

The first part of the report was released last week and includes several findings on SAA. It recommends that a number of former high-ranking SAA officials be investigated for fraud and corruption during the tenure of the airline's ex-chairperson Dudu Myeni between December 2012 and October 2017.

The report found that Myeni, a close ally of former president Jacob Zuma, sabotaged the airline from within via a mixture of "negligence, incompetence and deliberate corrupt intent". Myeni denies any wrongdoing.

 

4 482 new infections as death toll rises by 82

South Africa recorded 4 482 new confirmed Covid-19 infections on Sunday.

According to a statement by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases there have been 82 new Covid-19 deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 92 453.

The NICD said the 4 482 new Covid-19 cases identified in South Africa represented a 17.6% positivity rate.

There were 80 new hospital admissions in the last 24-hour cycle. As of Sunday, 8 891 people were in public and private hospitals for Covid-19.

 

And, border vaccination sites to continue until Jan 15

The Department of Health announced today that the Lebombo and Ficksburg borders will continue to provide vaccination services until 15 January.

The campaign began on December 23 to provide vaccination services through pop-up sites during the festive season, targeting people travelling along major routes and cross border.

National Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said the border post based vaccination sites will enable people to conveniently vaccinate while waiting in the queue to cross the border, explaining that there is no need to register beforehand.

Mohale added that anyone living in the area where these border posts are situated will be able to receive vaccination services including the booster shots, as long as they produce any form of verifiable identity document, passport or birth certificate, especially children between 12 and 17 years old.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter [@Polity ZA]