Economists Warns of >50% Unemployment; Zuma Allegedly Paid R4.5m/pm For Corrupt Dealings

LOCAL NEWS

• Local economists warn of upside risks to unemployment, especially in hospitality and tourism, arising from the extended level 3 lockdown.
  • Note slow vaccine rollout could see unemployment reach 50% or more
• State capture inquiry hears testimony that the state security agency (SSA) paid ex-President Zuma R4.5m a month and was used to obstruct political opponents, stop Zuma must fall protests and bribe judges to rule in his favour.
  • If true and can be supported, this could add substantial weight to the case against Zuma
• HealthMin says SA still on course to receive its first batch of 1m vaccines by end-Jan from the Serum Institute of India (at a highly inflated price) and 500k in Feb. Says the vaccination drive will start in Feb.