Zero consequences

What’s in the M&G this week [View this email in your browser]( September 17, 2021 [Mail & Guardian]( [Mail & Guardian]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( Hi there, R3-billion lost to corruption 63 officials implicated 0 consequences Why have government departments failed to take action against employees accused of graft linked to Covid-19 procurement? More in this week’s M&G, in print and online. The song and dance about canning corrupt officials was just that — a performance. Despite the Special Investigating Unit finalising Covid‑19-related procurement corruption investigations worth R3-billion, national and provincial departments [have failed to discipline 63 of the 127 officials implicated]( in the alleged graft. Khaya Koko reports. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is a man that’s come to learn a thing or two about corruption. Which still might not be enough to get the top job. Less than a month before Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng’s term ends, President Cyril Ramaphosa was said to be leaning towards naming Mogoeng’s deputy, now a household name as the chair of the state capture inquiry, as the next head of the judiciary — [before two twists changed the script](. Lizeka Tandwa and Emsie Ferreira have more. Staying with the judiciary, Ferreira reports that Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe has [filed an urgent application with the high court]( in Johannesburg to stay his likely impeachment and review the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission. For Hlophe, we have a quote from arch Marvel villain Thanos: “Dread it, run from it, destiny arrives all the same.” We take a left turn to pollution: Sheree Bega reports that the minimum lifetime [cost to South Africa of the plastic produced in 2019 is a staggering R885.34-billion]( including damage to livelihoods and key economic industries such as fishing and tourism, clean-up costs to the government and threats to the health of the population. In this week’s Q&A Session, Bega meets Cathy Dreyer, the rhino whisperer. Dreyer, the first female head ranger of the Kruger National Park, tells us about earning the trust of black rhinos by reading to them and why the park’s hard-working rangers deserve the admiration of all South Africans Lawyers representing the Marikana victims say their clients are deciding on a course of action following [Judge Colin Lamont’s decision to recuse himself]( from a R1-billion civil suit against President Cyril Ramaphosa, the state and mining company Lonmin plc, Tunisia Phillips reports. And finally, Carlos Amato’s cartoon on a curiously shaped hole in South African politicians. Thank you for taking the time to appreciate our journalists’ hard work. We’ll be back, same time, same place, next week. Happy days, 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 which mails you receive from Mail & Guardian? [Update your preferences]( to tell us what you do and don't want to receive, or [unsubscribe](. *If you are a paying subscriber, we recommend updating your preferences rather than unsubscribing, as you may miss important information relating to your subscription.