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The Department of Defence has no option but to return 500 000 vials of the unauthorised Covid-19 drug Interferon-Alpha-2B to Cuba, because the medicine will most likely expire before it can be used in South Africa. (Photo by Rajesh JANTILAL / AFP)
BILLY MASETHLA

Millions of rand lost as SANDF returns unauthorised Cuban Covid-19 drug

Remedial action against officials suspected of wrongdoing must be taken, says the ministerial task team investigating the defence department

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
Senior clinicians have warned of a healthcare crisis if Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital remains closed. (BigFive Images/ Gallo)
CHARLOTTE MAXEKE ACADEMIC HOSPITAL

Gauteng health system is heading for catastrophe

While officials remain entangled in bureaucratic knots, clinicians warn that the continued closure of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital risks a ‘humanitarian…

  • Dennis Webster
6 min read
The South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) has been deployed to Gauteng as an increase in Covid-19 infections places pressure on the province’s health system.
CHARLOTTE MAXEKE ACADEMIC HOSPITAL

As Covid third wave digs in, military health service sent to Gauteng

The defence branch will assist with mass testing, screening and contact tracing

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
South African National Defence Force patrolling at the border in Musina, Limpopo between South Africa and Zimbabwe. (Oupa Nkosi)
AARON MOTSOALEDI

Five-year ban for fake Covid certificates as SA borders reopen

Twenty land borders have reopened after a month’s closure prompted by congestions that raised concerns about the spread of the virus.

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
SANDF members patrol Alexandra on operations to police residents during the Covid-19 national lockdown. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BANDILE MASUKU

SANDF hid R200m expenditure on ‘Covid’ drug it can’t use

Military health officials are puzzled by the defence department importing a drug that has not been approved for treating coronavirus symptoms from Cuba

  • Sabelo Skiti
5 min read
AFRICAN PEACE AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

SANDF example shows how we can rethink African peace and security architecture

Cyril Ramaphosa’s creative employment of the SANDF as part of Covid-19 relief efforts is an example of using the military to build social cohesion

  • Martin Rupiya
8 min read
Covid patrol: Soldiers with a homeless person in Yeoville, Johannesburg. The military health services plan to reinforce, regroup and strengthen its medical capacity in the wake of Covid-19. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CORONAVIRUS

Army calls for reserve volunteers

This week the South African Military Health Service issued a call to registered medical personnel to join the Reserve Force as volunteers until June 23 as part of the operation…

  • Paddy Harper
3 min read
There is a warrant of arrest out for Jacob Zuma (centre) should he not be able to provide a concrete medical certificate to justify his absence from court on Tuesday. (Michele Spatari/POOL/AFP)
CUBA

Riddle of Zuma’s sick note

SANDF officials considered launching a probe into the ‘doctored’ certificate

  • Thanduxolo Jika
5 min read
The Zondo commission has filed an urgent Constitutional Court application for an order compelling former president Jacob Zuma to testify before it and forged an argument as to why the matter falls within the court’s exclusive jurisdiction. (Wikus de Wet/Pool/Reuters)
BILLY DOWNER

Arrest warrant issued for no-show Zuma

The high court wants more details about the nature of the illness preventing the former president from appearing on corruption charges

  • Paddy Harper
2 min read
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Health Dept deploys new nurses across SA

About 2Â 000 nurses have been deployed to under-served areas across the country since the start of the year, the Department of Health said on Saturday. In a statement, the…

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read