SIU makes damning finding on Mkhize

Investigating unit accuses minister of unlawful and improper conduct in Digital Vibes contract

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which seeks to recoup millions of rand spent on the controversial Digital Vibes contract, has accused health minister Zweli Mkhize of unlawful and improper conduct for his role and is seeking to recoup almost R4m from his family.

In court papers filed in the Special Tribunal on Thursday, which Business Day has seen, the SIU wants the R150m contract reviewed and set aside and for those implicated to be ordered to pay the SIU or the department of health the money they received with interest.

The SIU said Mkhize put pressure on health department director-general Malebona Matsoso via repeated text messages to approve the communication contract for Digital Vibes, a company that counts his former personal assistant and secretary as owners.

“At best, this conduct on the part of the minister was improper and, at worst, the conduct of the minister was unlawful,” the SIU said in an affidavit.

The SIU also stated that “there is evidence that the minister has directly and indirectly received gratifications from Digital Vibes”, citing R3.8m that flowed to Mkhize’s son Dedani, while another R6,720 was used for repairs at Mkhize’s Bryanston property.

The court papers will likely pile pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has staked his political reputation on rooting out corruption, to act strongly against Mkhize, who has been on special leave pending the outcome of the investigation into the scandal.

IMPATIENCE

Speaking to media earlier on Thursday, after visiting a Covid19 vaccination site in the East Rand, Ramaphosa said he had the SIU’s final investigation report on the matter, but needed more time to make up his mind.

“There are a few issues that need to be completed and once all that has been done, I will come out and explain to the nation exactly how I am going to deal with that report.”

He knew there was impatience over the scandal, but “it’s

not a matter that I’m going to sit on forever”, Ramaphosa said, adding that he would come out and explain the way forward in due course.

Business Day has previously reported that the president has already told those close to him that dismissing Mkhize was a fait accompli.

CORRUPTION

The SIU report looked into the awarding of a R150m communications contract to Digital Vibes for work that was related to the proposed National Health Insurance. The contract was later extended to projects on Covid-19.

The SIU’s final report on Digital Vibes was handed to the president last month.

The SIU has successfully applied to the Special Tribunal, set up to recover funds lost to corruption, to freeze about R22m held in bank and investment accounts, as well as other assets including properties of those linked to Digital Vibes, and entities and individuals who received payments from it.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told Business Day on Thursday afternoon: “When those accounts were frozen, we were given 30 days to file papers [in our quest] to review and set aside the contract. We have filed the papers with the Special Tribunal, and the matter is now with the Special Tribunal.”

FROZEN ACCOUNTS

Digital Vibes is headed by Mkhize’s former personal assistant, Tahera Mather, and his former secretary, Naadhira Mitha.

In the court papers, the SIU wants Digital Vibes, Mather and Mitha to be ordered to pay to the department of health the “amount of R150,002,607.80”, including interest at the prescribed rate calculated from the date of judgment.

It also wants to recoup R1m from Royal Bhaca Projects, a company owned by the husband of Ramaphosa’s suspended spokesperson, Khusela Diko. It is among those implicated in alleged corruption pertaining to procurement of personal protective equipment for Covid-19.

DIGITAL VIBES IS HEADED BY MKHIZE’S FORMER PERSONAL ASSISTANT, TAHERA MATHER, AND HIS FORMER SECRETARY, NAADHIRA MITHA