Angola wants USD 2 billion in lawsuit against Isabel dos Santos

Angolan Government said that it expects to recover at least USD 2 billion in several lawsuits filed in a single civil case against engineer Isabel dos Santos

The information was released on Friday by the Attorney General  Hélder Pitta Grós, during a press conference.

Pitta Grós, on the other hand, denied reports on an alleged interest of the Angolan Government in negotiating with Isabel dos Santos.

Likewise, he denied that the Attorney General's Office (PGR) has given up on the idea of ​​requesting the issuance of an arrest warrant against the businesswoman.
 

He ruled out the possibility for the Angolan side to negotiate with the businesswoman", unless she wishes.
 

Hélder Pitra Grós ruled out losses for the Angolan Government for nationalization by the Portuguese Government of 71.73 percent of Efacec's share capital, held by Angolan businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, through Winterfell.

 

According to the PGR, Angola's interests are safeguarded, stressing that there was no investment in a desired volume of shares because ENDE later ended up giving up.

The PGR rules out any intention of the government to negotiate with the businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, clarifying that the negotiation would only be possible outside the process, and in the process, it is only admissible if one of the parties gives up.

He assured that the process is ongoing and at the moment there is nothing to suggest that the Angolan Government can give up on these actions, because there was no specific move from Ms. Isabel dos Santos that “makes us give up on these actions”.
 

He explained that if there are other complaints, they must be presented by the lawyers of the businesswoman within the process.
Negotiation could only be held if one of the parties recognises its mistake, i.e, some illicit fact.

“The government has not committed any illegal act. So we (government) do not have any intention to negotiate. If she wants to negotiate, she must recognise the illegal acts she has committed, she must tell the acts committed by herself or by the functioning of her companies in order to evaluate it ”, he said.

He added that if it complies with what the Angolan government is requesting in civil action, we will go ahead.

 

“In relation to criminal proceedings, this no longer happens,” explained the source, stressing that the criminal proceeding is underway, along with the actions regarding the recovery of assets and both are in progress and we will continue with them.

Hélder Pitra Grós informed that the PGR has not received any expression of interest from Isabel dos Santos so far.

In the PGR's view, it cannot be said that there is political persecution against Isabel dos Santos, because there are concrete facts that are in the criminal process and in civil actions. "This is where we can discuss the issues."
 

As for the alleged protection of other figures, the PGR said that things cannot run at the same time, there is no capacity for all citizens who have committed illegal acts to see their processes to be dealt with.
 

“There are investigation processes that are underway and in due course will come to the public's attention. In relation to it, it may be due to the fact that its exposure has given more prominence to society ”, he stressed.

Hélder Pitra Grós reiterated the intention to recover all financial and non-financial assets that were diverted from the treasury.
"At this moment there are some limitations due to the moment we are experiencing, but we did not stop completely", he assured."

Regarding the arrest warrant, Hélder Pitra Grós said that it is a hypothesis that is always open, because arrest warrants are also used to force a citizen who does not come by himself or who does not respond to notifications to report to justice.

“We want her to report to justice. This does not means that after being heard she will be detained. This is a second step that the magistrate will be able to decide. The first objective is to make sure that she come herself to justice ”, explained the official.

Covid-19: The South African Rhodes University welcomes first group of returning students since COVID-19 lockdown

Rhodes University welcomes first group of returning students since COVID-19 lockdown

Specialist training for staff, strict protocols including daily screening, physical distancing, hand hygiene and mask-wearing, are in place as the university this week welcomes back on campus the first cohort of students who have been identified in line with the criteria set out by the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET). These include senior science and pharmacy students, students with disabilities and students whose home environment is not conducive to quality learning.

Training for relevant staff members has included the application of basic microbiological cleaning principles targeting SARS-CoV-2. This method is guided by the Global Bio Risk Advisory Council’s (GBAC) protocol for response and remediation and the practical guidelines of the Professional Body for Environmental Hygiene in South Africa.

“The University has had to balance a number of serious priorities to get to this point. On the one hand, is the health, wellbeing and safety of students, staff and our surrounding community, and on the other, the academic programme, the futures of our students and livelihoods. In our decisions, we are guided by the three-pronged theme of the Department of Higher Education & Training – save lives, save the academic year and maximise opportunities for student success.

The COVID-19 pandemic is however still our reality. There are a number of important voluntary individual responsibilities that each one of us will have to exercise at this difficult time to create a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning,” Vice-Chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela said.

To support these individual initiatives, new systems, processes and rules have been approved and communicated. The Students Disciplinary Code, Hall and Staff Codes have, accordingly, been reviewed. This is in the interest of the Rhodes University community in general to deal effectively with the enforcement of Government Regulations relating to COVID-19.

It should, however, be emphasised that curbing the spread of the virus in our community is less about the University’s capacity or capability to enforce the stringent measures that are in place, and more about the individual responsibility and agency of each student and staff member to safeguard their own health and wellbeing and that of the other members of our community, Dr Mabizela said.

Upon first time arrival, students, both residential and oppidan, are required to self-quarantine for a 14-day period. Meals for residential students will be delivered to their rooms.

During this time, online teaching and learning will continue.

Everyone entering campus will be screened daily. Specially-trained volunteers will also do screening within the residences and classrooms.

Where COVID-19 symptoms are detected, the person concerned will be referred to the Health Care Centre (HCC). All volunteers are trained in maintaining confidentiality and in the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which will be supplied to them.

In the case of confirmed COVID-19, the HCC shall immediately consult with the Department of Health (DoH).

Planning and preparation for the resumption of in contact teaching and learning in special cases, has been carried out in the last month. Residences, student centres, lecture halls, dining halls and labs have been disinfected and sanitised to ensure maximum safety as prescribed in official guidelines.

Among the applicable protocols are the following:

• Returning students are required to screen themselves before leaving home. Any student who presents with COVID- 19 symptoms is requested to be tested, wait for results at home and only make travel plans when negative results are confirmed.
• Daily cleaning and disinfecting will be undertaken to maintain a safe environment for students and staff.
• Where positive COVID-19 cases are confirmed, such spaces shall immediately be closed off and the applicable health guidelines shall be followed.
• The two-metre physical distancing rule shall apply in all shared spaces, including dining halls and lecture venues and standing in queues.
• Students are especially encouraged to avoid physical contact such as handshaking, and hand-to-hand contact through the exchange of paper, cellphone devices, or any other material or commodity.
• Hand sanitiser dispensers will be made available to students, lecturers and cleaning staff to use before entering and re-entering various buildings.

 Understanding that this “new normal” can be overwhelming, frightening and isolating, the Counselling Centre has developed several plans for psychosocial support for students.

“Students who, by their conduct, place the well-being of other students at risk may face exclusion from Rhodes University or from residences. Each one of us has a serious responsibility towards all those with whom we share spaces and facilities. Careless and reckless conduct will attract immediate reaction and stern consequences,” concluded Mr Luzuko Jacobs, Director: Communications & Advancement.

For more information on the applicable protocols, guidelines and frameworks, please visit: https://www.ru.ac.za/cvrtt/

Covid-19: The Angolan Minister of Health denies lack of beds

The Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, denied last Sunday, in Luanda, the information about the lack of beds and other equipment at Covid-19 treatment centres.

In a press conference to update the epidemiological situation of covid-19 in the previous 24 hours, she said that only the Field Hospital, located in the Special Economic Zone (ZEE), inViana Municipality, has 500 beds and the country registers 353 infected, 226 are active cases.

In addition to this recently opened health unit, for the treatment and hospitalization of positive, mild and severe cases, the sector also has the Girassol, Sagrada Esperança (Endiama) clinics, the Barra do Kwanza and Calumbo inpatient centres, for asymptomatic patients.

"In other countries, such as the United States of America and European, they are adapting stadiums and car parks for campaign hospitals and no one complains about the conditions," she lamented.

Sílvia Lutucuta informed that unlike conventional health units, those who care for Covid-19 patients have their own specificities and are adapted to not receive visits, other activities or install other services.

Regarding deaths from the disease (19), she expressed concern, clarifying, however, that many of them occurred due to the fact that patients arrived at health facilities in critical condition, associated with serious diseases (hypertension, diabetes, cancer, poorly controlled HIV, tuberculosis… ), while others arrived already dead.

However, she stressed that hospitals were able to recover two seriously ill patients, assisted by ventilators, despite the fact that two people who were apparently healthy had died.

Regarding the acquisition of sanitary equipment to fight the disease, she reiterated that more than half of the 43 billion kwanzas made available by the government were used for “high purchases” of hospital and bio-safety material, in the order of 544 tonnes, in China.

“Value the work of the Executive. The donations we received do not reach 50 tonnes and are not counted in the acquisitions (544 tonnes) of the Government of Angola”, she concluded.

The country now has 353 infected cases, with 19 deaths, 108 recovered patients and 226 active.