Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize is expected to visit the Northern Cape today to assess progress in the COVID-19 vaccination programme roll out in the province.
The Northern Cape is one of the toughest places to run a mass vaccination campaign- we will visit to provide support and engage the public and stakeholders on key issues at the DOH pic.twitter.com/0kzMQexVH6
— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) June 8, 2021
The Minister, who is dogged by allegations of involvement in the issuing of an irregular tender by his department, is expected to visit two vaccination sites in Kimberley. He will visit the Galeshewe Day Hospital and the Harmony Home Centre in Sol Plaatje municipality. The Northern Cape is currently facing a third wave of infections. Nobelungu Nowapane reports..
Mkhize’s visit comes amid speculations that he might be forced to resign over ongoing investigations into the Digital Vibes Communications tender scandal.
The investigation follows allegations that the Health Department awarded a R150-million contract to Digital Vibes, which is a company control by two former aides to Minister Mkhize.
Case against Digital Vibes
Earlier, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) confirmed that a case against the former associates of the Health Minister has been opened at the Norwood police station in Johannesburg. The charges of fraud and embezzlement against Tahera Mather and Naadhira Mitha were laid in May by the director of the communications company Digital Vibes, Radha Hariram.
It is alleged that Mather and Mitha transferred large sums of money from the company’s business account without the director’s knowledge.
“It’s alleged that an amount of R80 million was embezzled from the Digital Vibes business account. The SIU says it will follow the money flows when it investigates the allegations.
Digital Vibes allegedly paid for renovations at a house belonging to Mkhize’s family trust and the Minister’s son Dedani’s car.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago has confirmed that they are investigating the matter but has, however, said they cannot confirm further as it’s now a criminal matter, but they will watch it closely.
Mkhize to appear before ANC Integrity Commission
The ANC’s Integrity Commission said on Monday that it has received a letter from Mkhize indicating that he will appear before the commission about the irregular R150 million Digital Vibes tender.
Sanusha Naidoo on Mkhize appearing before the ANC’s Integrity Commission:
Mkhize told reporters last week that the contract was irregular and that disciplinary action will be taken against those responsible.
‘We received the letter at the meeting and we said we will call him. We will write a letter to him to tell him when to come and will arrange the date. We did not decide on the meeting. Contents will come out when we discuss with him. I understand this is a serious matter, but I won’t pre-empt the deliberations with the IC,” ANC Integrity Commission chairperson, George Mashamba said.
