By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s son said he’s never denied receiving money from Digital Vibes director Tahera Maher.
Dedanimabhunu Mkhize said in a Facebook post those financial exchanges had nothing to do with the controversial contract the company got under his father’s watch.
“It is unfortunate to find myself entangled in a saga I know nothing of. It is highly presumptuous to inadvertently suppose that any past financial exchanges with Tahera Mather have a bearing on the contract in question.
“I have not benefitted a cent from the Digital Vibes contract with the Department of Health and, to state this as a fact, are scurrilous assumptions. To assume that past financial exchanges mean I benefit in her business dealings (by virtue of being her friend) seems to be a desperate attempt to sensationalise matters,” he said.
This comes after he and his father were referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for possible corruption charges flowing out of dubious payments they received from Digital Vibes.
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 R 6 720 from Digital Vibes, allegedly to pay for maintenance at a property in Bryanston.
Dedani is said to have received R3.8 million from Digital Vibes.
The SIU listed 20 people, who received around R90 million from the R150 million Digital Vibes contract.
Dedani denied having received R3.8 million and said that he, from the outset, voluntarily approached the SIU to assist with the investigation.
“I also informed them of an affidavit I had already deposed, dealing with the allegations that had been made in the media. In that same affidavit, I made an offer that, if it is proven that I may have unknowingly benefitted from an individual who had received funds unlawfully from the state, I would be willing to pay such monies back.
“The SIU acknowledged receipt of my attorney’s correspondence and affidavit. I have never received word or engagement from the SIU since that correspondence,” he said.
In her founding affidavit, the SIU’s lead investigator, Rajendra Chunilall, said there was no justification for the retention of the amounts.
“It is just and equitable to hold the parties concerned liable jointly and severally with Digital Vibes and the second to fourth respondents to repay them. The applicant (the SIU) consequently seeks an order directing each of these parties to repay the funds unjustifiably received by them from the national health department,” she said.
The second to fourth respondents are Mather, Naadhira Mitha and Radha Hariram.
In respect of Mkhize’s referral to the NPA, Chunilall said: “The SIU’s investigations have revealed evidence that the impugned transactions took place in circumstances constituting the commission of offences in terms of, inter alia, section 3 read with sections 24, and 26 of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act committed by inter alia, the fifth (Mkhize) and sixth (Mkhize’s son, Dedani) respondents. The evidence has been referred to the NPA,” she said.
Mkhize is on special leave, pending the finalisation of the investigation into the Digital Vibes tender saga at the department.