AFRICA’S BEST READ February 7 to 13 2020 Vol 36 No 6 mg.co.za @mailandguardian The real state of the nation Zuma was not going to make it to court anyway Page 2 Public protector’s powers on trial Page 12 PHOTO: DELWYN VERASAMY DELWYN PHOTO: All but 18 municipalities have failed, hundreds of billions of rands are lost, promises have turned to lies and desperate communities have turned to the courts OThecost of water: Sex with a water carrier or endanger a child A welcome boost of OHow high court officials stole millions from deceased estates youth for the Proteas Pages 3 to 11 & 17 Sport CELEBRATING 100 YEARS Faculty of OF VETERINARY EDUCATION Veterinary Science Fakulteit Veeartsenykunde Lefapha la Disaense tša Bongakadiruiwa IN SOUTH AFRICA The only Faculty of Trained over An exam Home to a Pioneers in Veterinary Science A TOP 50 pass rate of comprehensive the chemical in South Africa veterinary school 5 000 veterinary hospital that immobilisation of internationally veterinarians in the 97% can hospitalise animals wildlife last 100 years ranging from lizards to rhinos #ChooseUP to learn more about veterinary science, One Health and animal welfare Make today matter 2 Mail & Guardian February 7 to 13 2020 News ppm As of December4124 2019 this is the latest level Riddle of Zuma’s sick note of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A safe number is 350 while 450 is catastrophic Data source: NASA SANDF officials considered launching Apply to be our a probe into the climate fellow ‘doctored’ certificate Thanduxolo Jika The climate crisis is driven by humans and it is already breaking down the eco- ormer president Jacob systems that we rely on for survival. It is Zuma’s questionable both the biggest story of this century and medical certificate has also one largely overlooked by the media. Fraised sufficient concern We tend to report when there is a big within the South African event, such as international climate nego- National Defence Force (SANDF) tiations or destructive cyclones. to prompt the possibility of an Our problem is that the crisis comes at a investigation into the document. time when media are dealing with its own The doctor’s note, presented to crisis. The internet meant most media out- the Pietermaritzburg high court lets decided to chase clicks: quantity, and by Zuma’s lawyers this week, was attention-grabbing cat videos, over qual- deemed to be insufficient proof ity. They essentially decided to disrespect of the former head of state being their audience. Now they are desperate to indisposed. grab attention by investing in (important) Among the concerns raised by political and investigative reporting. But Judge Dhaya Pillay were its vague everything else — health, education, envi- nature and the fact that dates Doctored document? Zuma’s medical certificate, which was presented to the Pietermaritzburg high ronment, arts — suff ers as a result. appeared to have been altered, court on Tuesday when he was due to appear on corruption charges, has allegedly been altered The Mail & Guardian is no diff erent in without a corresponding signa- having made mistakes. But we are trying ture from the issuing doctor. and who had cleared Zuma to fl y was called off at the highest level offi ce, after which he was checked to change this. That’s why this column The certificate listed Zuma’s after two surgeries. because it was felt that the matter into a hotel where he spent a few and the graphic with carbon concentra- diagnosis as a “medical condition” Sources have told M&G that was before the courts. hours to refresh before boarding tions is the fi rst thing you see in the news- and did not provide further detail. Zuma has been in Pretoria — with As a former president, Zuma an 11pm fl ight for Johannesburg. paper. It’s why we lead with articles about The date had been changed to his fourth wife Bongi Ngema- is treated by the South African “As a doctor he [Motene] has the environment and the intertwined January 6, but was not initialled Zuma — since he left Nkandla Military Health Services a right to travel with his patient climate crisis, as well as education, mining by the doctor who issued it. in the fi rst week of January after (SAMHS). and also issue a sick note,” said and other social justice problems. Although Zuma’s lawyer, Daniel spending Christmas with his fam- At the centre of the concern in another source in government To help the change, we have partnered Mantsha, told the court that Zuma ily at the homestead. He has not the corridors at SANDF is that with knowledge of the SANDF’s with the Eugene Saldanha Memorial had undergone two surgical pro- been to Nkandla or to Durban the sick note, which was signed medical practices. “It is normal Fund, a project of CAF Southern Africa, to cedures on January 7 and 9 and — where his third wife, Thobeka off by Dr Zakes Motene — who that the Cuban doctors would tell create a climate reporting fellowship. This could not travel on January 23, Madiba-Zuma, lives — since then. is assigned to Zuma as his doc- the former president’s doctor that will give someone a year-long chance to when he was supposedly meant to He flew out of the country on tor — could be a forged document he will be booked off for a certain enter the journalism industry. go to Cuba, the Mail & Guardian January 27 and was only expected because the dates appeared to period and, as the president’s doc- Search “The M&G is hiring a climate can reveal that the former presi- to return in March. have been altered. tor, he can issue a sick note. In fellow” to read the advert and informa- dent’s travel date of January 27 It was reported in Sunday World A government official who is this instance, this note doesn’t tion on requirements and how to apply. was finalised as far back as the that the two are now estranged aware of the concerns said: “The look genuine and it was defi nitely Based at the M&G newsroom in second week of January and was after claims that Madiba-Zuma sick note is the one that we use at altered or forged.” Johannesburg, this role will prioritise not a last-minute decision. had taken some of Zuma’s sim defence. The problem is that there Another government source reporting on communities that are not “During the week of January cards without his permission. are dates which were changed said: “Dr Motene is part of the in the media spotlight. The climate crisis [7] president Zuma underwent It is understood that Zuma told there and that is what the investi- team that sees to the medical is a complex story but at its core is a tale two surgeries and given his age those close to him that he had gation would have focused on. But needs of the former president of social injustice and power. Across our and the fact that he didn’t recover been poisoned again. It is unclear those that are in power said this … SAMHS will be responsible print and digital platforms, the M&G much quicker … that aff ected the who he blamed for this. Zuma has should be dealt with by lawyers for any diagnosis and treatment seeks to hold power to account and time of departure on the 23rd of openly spoken about his alleged who are already at court.” required by [Zuma]. They would investigate the status quo. Our starting January … He eventually travelled poisoning previously. In 2017 he The M&G has also confirmed also make the referral to any other position is that the world and this coun- on the 27th of January,” Mantsha was quoted as saying that he had that Motene was part of the medical facility, should the treat- try, in particular, in their current form told the court. been poisoned three times by SANDF team that accompanied ment required not be available at perpetuate abuses of power that manifest The timing of Zuma’s travel someone close to him. Zuma late last year when he went a military medical facility.” themselves in environmental problems dates to Cuba, with him departing “I was poisoned and almost died for medical treatment in Cuba, The source said that the medical ranging from mines polluting rivers to on January 27, would have left him just because South Africa joined leaving him unable to attend the certifi cate appeared to be a legiti- power plants releasing the carbon that with roughly four days to undergo Brics [the Brazil, India, China, Zondo commission of inquiry. mate SAMHS document, multiple drives global heating. his medical treatment and recuper- Russia, South Africa bloc] under Zuma was in Cuba in early copies of which would have been I started this job as a trainee reporter. ate before travelling back to South my leadership. They said I was December last year — travelling generated in terms of military The M&G newsroom is one where people Africa. On this schedule, Zuma going to destroy the country.” with a personal assistant and doc- protocol. “All military documents share ideas and challenge each other, would have been hard pressed to The M&G has now established tor. He travelled back to South would be duplicated, with copies with the expectation that any reporter attend court on February 4. from diff erent sources in the gov- Africa on December 8 via Paris on retained by the issuing medical and any story can lead and drive the Mantsha had not responded to ernment that the SANDF had a commercial fl ight.