THE Special Investigating Unit (SIU) said on Tuesday that some of the proceeds of the Digital Vibes tender directly or indirectly went to the family of former health minister Zweli Mkhize, including his wife and his son Dedani.
Advocate Barry Roux represented the investigating unit at the Special Tribunal on Tuesday.
Roux described the series of payments as a money-laundering scheme intended to benefit the former health minister’s family and conceal their liability.
The companies included All Out Trading (Pty), Tusokuhle Farming, Azwakele Trading and Projects (Pty) Ltd and/or Sithokozile Khaliphile Mkhize, Cedar Falls Properties, Mateta Projects and Sirela Trading.
Its submission claims that R1.8m was paid towards the bond of May Mkhize, wife of the former Health Minister, through Cedar Falls Properties.
The SIU said as set out in the founding affidavit, the minister’s son, Dedani Mkhize, has admitted to receiving the amount of R300 000 paid to All Out Trading from Composite Trading which he considered to be a gift.
He undertook to repay the amount if it is established.
The SIU’s affidavit also alleges that it obtained further evidence that Dedani Mkhize received the amounts of R1, 75 million laundered through the bank account of JD Communications CC, and R1, 4 million laundered through the personal bank account of a “Mr Jacob Desai who is alleged to have converted these payments to cash and allegedly given to an intermediary in boxes and plastic bags.”
The SIU investigation previously found that an R150-million tender by the Department of Health was awarded to Digital Vibes unlawfully.
The unit is hoping to recover money from six companies, with amounts ranging between R500,000 to just over a million rand.
Digital Vibes was linked to the former minister’s associates Tahera Mather and Naadhira Mitha.
The Digital Vibes company was initially awarded a media campaign contract with the health department for the National Health Insurance.
The contract was unlawfully expanded under Mkihze’s pressure, the SIU said in its report.
Mkhize had since applied to the Gauteng High Court to review the SIU report and findings against him.
Judgment in this matter has been reserved.
- – Inside Politics
