No escape for JZ

What's in the M&G this week [View this email in your browser]( January 29, 2021 [Mail & Guardian]( [Mail & Guardian]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( Hi there, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo appears a step closer to getting former president Jacob Zuma to account. Plus, the eight years more that the coronavirus pandemic will affect schooling as well as the what, where and when of the vaccine. And we go in search of an urban hippo. Get it in print and online. Zuma ordered to account, again: Former president Jacob Zuma [has run out of legal road to avoid testifying]( before the Zondo commission after Thursday’s Constitutional Court order that was handed down as the narrative of grand corruption he faces took a compelling turn into spy novel territory, reports Emma Balfour. In a ruling read out by Justice Chris Jafta, the court ordered Zuma to respect all summonses served by the commission and to answer all questions put to him, save where he can justify resorting to the privilege against self-incrimination. NPA cool on ire over VBS saga’s glacial pace: The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that the trial of those charged in the alleged R2.3-billion VBS Mutual Bank heist — which could start this year or early in 2022 — will likely be prolonged and run for more than four months. Khaya Koko reports the NPA has disputed claims that any delays in finalising the saga were down to the ineptitude of its prosecutors, and [denied that the trial would begin only next year](. This followed reports by the Mail & Guardian this week that, according to three highly placed sources, the trial of the seven VBS executives and directors — as well as three others who the NPA said had yet to be arrested — would begin only early in 2022. [The barcoding gap: Can South Africa protect its Covid jabs from crime?]( South Africa’s first Covid-19 vaccines, scheduled to land on Monday, won’t be barcoded, as the health department said they would, making it easier for criminals to steal them, Darren Taylor and the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism report. The AstraZeneca jabs will be given to health workers, so the vials are set to be transported to some public health facilities at which the theft of medicines has been prevalent. If the country adopts a security system called GS1, which it considered in 2017, it would make it significantly easier to prevent vaccine theft and falsified jabs from entering the supply chain. Don’t forget that this week Friday delves into Jonas Gwangwa’s vast career and celebrates his spirit by recalling his influence on South African culture and its place as a weapon of struggle. We hope you sit back and enjoy that over a pot of tea during a relaxing weekend. Until Tuesday, Kiri Rupiah & Luke Feltham [Subscribe now]( Enjoy The Ampersand? Share it with your friends [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( [Share]( [Share]( Copyright © 2021 Mail & Guardian Media LTD, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive communications from the Mail & Guardian either at our website or by taking out a print subscription. Our mailing address is: Mail & Guardian Media LTD 25 Owl St BraamfonteinJohannesburg, Gauteng 2001 South Africa [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences or unsubscribe here.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa