Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has submitted its report into the role of health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize in the R150-million Digital Vibes Covid-19 communications contract to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed on Thursday that the report had been delivered to the president by the last day of June, as planned.
The investigative body, tasked by the president to probe the contract that was awarded to a company associated with Mkhize’s former spokesperson Tahera Mather, is understood to have interviewed Mkhize during the course of the week.
Money from the contract, which was originally awarded for communications around the National Health Insurance (NHI), was allegedly used to buy a vehicle for Mkhize’s son Dedani and to carry out repairs to a house owned by the Mkhize family in Johannesburg.
The SIU is understood to have last week briefed Ramaphosa, who has placed Mkhize on special leave pending the outcome of the probe, which also addressed allegations that the health minister attempted to influence the contract award.
It has also frozen bank accounts belonging to individuals and companies that benefited from the contract to the tune of R22-million and is understood to be in the process of executing further seizures.
Mkhize has maintained his innocence, stating that he neither made any attempt to influence the award of the contract, nor received any personal benefit from it. Mkhize has also distanced himself from Mather, saying that while she was his political associate, she was not a personal friend.
Kganyago declined to comment on the process going forward, saying the matter was now with the presidency.
It is not clear at what point Ramaphosa will act on the report, or what action he will take.
[/membership]