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SA's corruption emergency | Dodgy Digital Vibes debacle
JOHANNESBURG - It’s famously known as the Digital Vibes saga and it’s been two years since its scandalous revelations were laid bare.
It involves a dodgy multi-million contract in which former health minister Zweli Mkhize’s close allies are alleged to have benefited.
While Parliament has since cleared Mkhize of contravening its code of ethics, questions remain about why many of those implicated in the SIU’s report haven’t been brought to book.
Is anyone being prosecuted and, could we see more arrests?
It’s been called one of the most shocking cases of Covid-19 looting and at the time Dr Zweli Mkhize was leading the health ministry.
In February 2021, Daily Maverick’s investigative unit, Scorpio, began releasing a series of exposés emanating from a R150-million Covid-19 and National Health Insurance communications contract.
The contractor, Digital Vibes – that’s owned by Tahera Mather and Naadirah Mitha - was charging the Health Department millions of rands to schedule media briefings at the height of the pandemic.
Mather is Mkhize’s former personal spokesperson while Mitha is his former personal assistant.
Mkhize said, of the relationship, "I do not regard any of these individuals whose names have been mentioned as friends, they are comrades I have worked with them this is not illegal.”
An internal probe found the tender had been awarded improperly.
I fully acknowledge and take full responsibility…for all this I want to unreservedly apologise.”
However, the investigation by the Special Investigating Unit was damning.
It alleged Mkhize’s son received over R3.8-million.
It also found Mkhize failed to exercise his oversight role and that his conduct was improper and at worst - unlawful.
Two years later - only two people are in the dock.
The NPA's Lumka Majonjana said, "there is one for Lizeka Ntonjeni when Digital vibes was appointed she received a payment of R160 000 and then with the second matter.”
Civil society organisations believe law enforcement should be doing more.
The Health Department says it has completed its internal investigations.
Last month, the Hawks refused to be drawn on who they are investigating.
The NPA says it hasn’t ruled out the possibility of more arrests while the SIU has vowed to recover the money that was siphoned.