By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which is seeking 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 wants his family to repay about R4m.
This week, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) filed court papers in the Special Tribunal to recover the irregular R150 million the national health department paid to Digital Vibes, owned by Mkhize’s close associate Tahera Mather.
In court papers, the SIU revealed that Mkhize received R6 720 from Digital Vibes allegedly to pay for maintenance at a property in Bryanston.
Mkzhize’s son Dedani allegedly received R3.8 million from Digital Vibes.
This amount came in the form of a vehicle, but also cash in boxes and plastic pockets that was picked up by Dedani from a petrol station on several occasions, according to evidence gathered by the SIU.
The SIU listed 20 people who received around R90 million from the R150 million Digital Vibes contract.
In her founding affidavit, SIU lead investigator Rajendra Chunilall said there was no justification for the retention of the amounts and that Digital Vibes and the individuals who were its controlling minds participated in the fraudulent and unlawful scheme.
On tracing the transfer of funds by the Digital Vibes to the various parties including Mkhize, the SIU said the funds constituted undue gratification or were transferred for the purposes of money laundering or as the proceeds of unlawful activities and derive from unlawful payments that Digital Vibes received from the department.
The SIU also found evidence that the impugned transactions took place in circumstances constituting the commission of an offence as envisioned in the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act allegedly committed by Mkhize and his son.
Mkhize and his son Dedani have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to consider charging them for corruption over “suspicious” payments they received from Digital Vibes.
The department initially contracted Digital Vibes for the National Health Insurance (NHI) campaign in 2019, for a R150 million communications contract.
The work was expanded to include communications on Covid-19. The controversial communications firm scored a cool R35 million before the department approved its work.