THE Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will be laying criminal charges against Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize at the Cape Town police station over the controversial R150 million tender involving his department.
This comes after the latest investigation by the Daily Maverick, which further reveals that the PR and communications company Digital Vibes bought a Land Cruiser bakkie for Mkhize’s son, Dedani Mabhunu.
The communications company belongs to the minister’s close friends, colleagues and associates.
The latest revelations follow recent reports that Digital Vibes had transferred money to DedaniMabhunu Mkhize’s company and also paid for maintenance work at the minister’s family property in Johannesburg.
The DA’s shadow minister of Health, Siviwe Gwarube, said that they would also be laying a complaint against the department’s Director-General Sandile Buthelezi at Cape Town Central Police Station on Thursday.
“The DA will be laying criminal charges against Minister Mkhize for specifically the contravention of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act, which really puts in the prohibition of such actions by the minister,” said Gwarube.
“Following a Daily Maverick investigation, it has since been reported that Minister Mkhize personally signed off on the submission that contained the contract. This is in direct contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (POCCA) section 3 and specifically section 12 and 13 which relate to acts of service offered or accepted in exchange for government contracts and tenders.”
She added: “In addition, the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) explicitly states that the signing off of any contracts is the function of the accounting officer and not the executive authority – as was allegedly the case with Minister Mkhize. Therefore, the Health DG, Dr Buthelezi must also be investigated for his involvement and possible contravention of the PFMA with gross negligence.”
“The DA has long called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to break his silence on this matter and take action against Minister Mkhize. He cannot be entrusted with leading the national response on Covid-19 while there are damning allegations levelled against him. The President needs to instruct the Minister to step down pending the full investigation by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU). The Minister cannot continue being both the player and the referee in an investigation that he is the center of.”
Mkhize has denied the allegations.
- Inside Politics
