By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The ANC’s integrity commission has recommended that suspended Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize should step aside over the controversial R150 million contract awarded to Digital Vibes.
The report was expected to be tabled at the ANC’s next national executive committee (NEC) meeting for consideration.
The commission’s chairperson, George Mashamba has confirmed that it met with Mkhize to get his side of the story on the multi-million rand Digital Vibes tender.
Mashamba said “We have sent a report to the organisation and we also sent a copy to the NEC to process.”
In June, Mkhize wrote to the integrity commission requesting a meeting to state his side of the story involving the irregular contract awarded by the national Department of Health to Digital Vibes – a company linked to his close associates.
The report reportedly implicates Mkhize and the department’s deputy director-general, Dr Anban Pillay, for allegedly pressuring officials to appoint the company.
Digital Vibes was initially contracted to handle the department’s National Health Insurance (NHI) communication work, but its scope was later expanded to include work on the department’s Covid-19 campaigns.
Last week, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) filed a founding affidavit to the Special Tribunal in a bid to review and set aside the multimillion-rand tender. The unit wants to recover the R150 million paid to Digital Vibes and individuals who received payments from the company.
It has also been reported that Mkhize and his son, Dedani, have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) by the SIU to consider charging them for corruption over “suspicious payments” they received from Digital Vibes.
Mkhize has always maintained his innocence in the scandal, saying he did not personally benefit from the contract even though his family could have.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa is yet to give feedback on the SIU report which has implicated Mkhize.