By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has launched a fresh legal bid on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and accuses his former director general of having orchestrated his downfall.
He has asked the high court in Pretoria to declare the Digital Vibes report as unlawful and unconstitutional.
Mkhize, his family and close associates were implicated in the R150 million communications tender awarded to Digital Vibes by the Department of Health.
The investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed showed how millions in public funds were spent on, among others, home improvements, a hair salon and nail franchise, luxury holidays and designer clothes by Mkhize’s associates and family members.
Digital Vibes, a communications company, was purportedly owned by Mkhize’s close associate Tahera Mather.
Mkhize denied any wrongdoing, and was placed on precautionary suspension in June.
The former minister then resigned in August 2021 ahead of a Cabinet reshuffle.
In his latest affidavit, the former minister accused the SIU of tackling its probe with a predetermined outcome.
He further accused investigators of ignoring crucial evidence, including that that showed that a former health director-general played a major role in the awarding of the lucrative tender.
Mkhize placed the blame squarely at the door of former director general at the Health Department Precious Matsoso whom he painted as the real culprit in the appointment of Digital Vibes even though it was his close associates who were linked to the company.
In the supplementary documents Mkhize explained that he and Matsoso had a difficult relationship.
He also used submissions from head of the GCIS Phumla Williams to connect the dots between Matsoso and his former personal assistant and close associate Tahera Mather who was heavily implicated in the report.
Mkhize first filed papers in December last year requesting the SIU to produce a Cabinet resolution that it says proves that he broke the law by awarding the National Health Insurance (NHI) communications contract to Digital Vibes when the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) could have done the job.
He wanted the SIU opposition of his court application dismissed should the investigative unit fail to produce the Cabinet resolution.
The SIU is opposing Mkhize’s motions to have the report set aside.
Digital Vibes was initially contracted to handle the department’s NHI communication work, but its scope was later expanded to include work on the department’s Covid-19 campaigns.
The SIU filed a 90-page affidavit to the Special Tribunal in a bid to recover the R150 million paid to Digital Vibes.
The latest move is seen as part of Mkhize’s attempt to clear his name ahead of the ANC’s National Congress in December 2022.