Mkhize yet to appear before ANC’s Integrity Commission
BELEAGUERED Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has yet to appear before the ANC Integrity Commission (IC) to answer to allegations of his involvement in the awarding of a R150 million tender to Digital Vibes linked to his close allies.
Two weeks ago, Mkhize wrote to the commission indicating his intention to appear before the ethics body comprised of veteran party leaders led by former Robben Islander George Mashamba. The commission meets every Saturday to hear members but Mkhize has yet to find a date suitable for him.
“He has not appeared yet before the committee. The matter is handled by our secretariat. The delay has been due to the parties failing to find a suitable date for him (Mkhize) to appear,” one of the commissioners said.
Mashamba was not available to comment. Mkhize is expected to answer allegations that he signed off the R150m contract to Digital Vibes, which is run by his former private assistant, Taheara Mathera, and former spokesperson, Naardhira Mitha.
The claims against Mkhize were made by the DA’s health spokesperson, Siviwe Gwarube, who alleges that Mkhize personally signed off on the submission that contained the contract, saying that it was in direct contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act section 3, and specifically sections 12 and 13, which relate to acts of service offered or accepted in exchange for government contracts and tenders.
In addition, Gwarube has claimed that the Public Finance Management Act explicitly stated that the signing off of any contracts was the function of the accounting officer and not the executive authority – as was allegedly the case with Mkhize.
According to Gwarube, “the highly irregular abuse of political power by Minister Mkhize is underscored by emerging evidence that the company in question, Digital Vibes, carried out maintenance projects at the minister’s home and money was directly channelled to Minister Mkhize’s son, Dedani”.
Mkhize has maintained that he did not personally benefited from the contract and has dismissed the allegations against him.
The Special Investigating Unit, which was also probing the R150m tender, was expected to conclude its report by the end of this month.