PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has received the Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU) report on Digital Vibes and is currently studying it, according to the Office of the President.
The SIU and the presidency were scheduled to appear before Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (SCOPA) on Tuesday but chair Mkhuleko Hlengwa announced the presidency had excused itself because it could not yet engage on the report.
The Digital Vibes corruption scandal involving millions of rand that was paid to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s close allies has taken an unexpected turn, with the company’s director and owner laying charges of fraud and embezzlement against Tahera Mather and Naadhira Mitha.
Digital Vibes was awarded a R150m contract by the Department of Health for communications work.
The deal had initially focused on the National Health Insurance scheme but was later expanded last year to include Covid-19 communications work for the department.
Digital Vibes is accused of inflating prices and doing work that the department could do internally.
According to reports, it was also alleged that a house owned by Mkhize’s family trust had renovations financed by the company and that it also purchased a vehicle for Mkhize’s son, Dedani.
Mkhize, who is said to be a close associate to some of the people linked to the company, is still on special leave.
- Inside politics
