THE Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted an order to freeze R22 million held in bank and investment accounts linked to the R150 million Digital Vibes communications tender awarded by the Department of Health.
The R22 million that has been frozen is locked in investment accounts that are controlled by Digital Vibes company, former spokesperson and Mkhize associate Tahera Mather, and her associate Suhaila Mather.
The order, granted by the Special Tribunal, prohibits Digital Vibes, Tahera Mather, Naadhira Mitha, Suhaila Mather, Suhaila Mather Consulting (Pty) Ltd, Amods Attorneys, WT Graphics and Designs (Pty) Ltd, and Strategeewhiz from dealing with the funds held in the bank and investment accounts in any manner.
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the investigation has found two highly irregular transactions between Digital Vibes and the department.
“The first transaction is a procurement process in 2019 in terms of which Digital Vibes was appointed to perform communications services relating to the National Health Insurance.
“The second transaction occurred in 2020 during the tenure of the first transaction when Digital Vibes was ‘appointed’ in respect of a Covid-19 awareness campaign without any competitive bidding or another procurement process at all,” said Kganyago.
“The Covid-19 awareness campaign was merely brought in as an extension to the contract between the Department and Digital Vibes in respect of the NHI media campaign, in circumstances where such an extension was irregular and unlawful.”
“Furthermore, the department utilised the budget allocated for the NHI contract and NHI media campaign to pay for the purported Covid-19 media campaign work allegedly performed by Digital Vibes.”
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has also been placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa amid the ongoing investigation into the contract.
Digital Vibes first received R25 million for the NHI media campaign and approximately R125 million in relation to the Covid-19 campaign.
- Inside Politics
