President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured South Africans that he is “dealing with” the corruption allegations surrounding Digital Vibes company and Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Addressing Parliament while delivering the Presidency’s budget vote on Wednesday (2 June), Ramaphosa said investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) should be allowed to conclude.
Due processes
“We must affirm the rule of law and the importance of due processes. It is this principle that informs our approach also to recent allegations around the Minister of Health and certain contracts awarded by his department,” Ramaphosa said.
“These are serious and disturbing allegations and it is therefore essential they be thoroughly investigated by the SIU and any other appropriate authority.
“I had a discussion with the minister and he is cooperating fully and completely on this matter. What I can say to South Africans is that I am dealing with this matter and there is full cooperation from the minister. Let us allow this process to unfold and thereafter we will know what needs to be done.”
The allegations emerged in February when Daily Maverick published a report uncovering a controversial R150 million communications contract awarded to Digital Vibes by the Department of Health.
Mkhize’s former associates
According to the report, the company is allegedly controlled by former associates of Mkhize, including his former “personal spokesperson” Tahera Mather and former personal assistant Naadhira Mitha.
Subsequent reports claimed that Digital Vibes paid for repairs to a residential property owned by Mkhize’s family which has since been sold. It also allegedly paid Mkhize’s son Dedani Mkhize R300,000 and bought him a used bakkie worth R160,000.
The Minister has denied benefitting from the scandal, but admitted during a recent press briefing that an internal forensic investigation had flagged the contract as irregular.
“Irregularities include inconsistencies in the bid committees to a lack of disclosure of conflict of interest,” he said, adding that Mathe and Mitha were not his friends but “comrades.”
Mkhize added that a process of recovering some of the funds and instituting disciplinary proceedings against responsible officials is underway.
“[W]e will leave no stone unturned on this matter. Consequence management will be applied. A Senior Counsel has already been appointed to recover some of the money spent,” he said.