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The Particular Investigating Unit (SIU) “is poised to strike in opposition to corruption” – and to date is hitting its goal.
The Digital Vibes report ready by the SIU and submitted to President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 23 has been publicly launched and could be seen right here.
The SIU launched its investigation into Digital Vibes and former minister of well being Dr Zweli Mkhize after receiving allegations from a whistleblower concerning potential irregularities within the award by the Nationwide Division of Well being (NDOH) of the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage (NHI) and Covid-19 media campaigns.
Learn:
Findings
The SIU discovered that the procurement processes in respect of the NHI and Covid-19 media campaigns had been irregular and the following contracts are void. This resulted in irregular expenditure amounting to roughly R150 million, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure amounting to roughly R80 million, having been incurred by the NDOH.
The SIU has obtained proof to assist its contentions that:
- Mkhize improperly and probably unlawfully gave directions to the then director-general (DG) of the NDOH Valuable Matsoso to nominate Tahera Mather as a “communication knowledgeable advisor for the NDOH in respect of the envisaged NHI media marketing campaign”. The minister despatched repeated WhatsApp messages to the DG. This “an interference by the Govt Authority within the affairs of the executive authority of the NDOH”.
- Digital Vibes was appointed on November 29, 2019, after which “’appointed’ Mather and [her niece Naadhira] Mitha as purported contractors for functions of the NHI media marketing campaign”.
- Mkhize authorised a R46 million media marketing campaign 52 days after the service degree settlement (SLA) between the NDOH and Digital Vibes had been signed, and authorised one other R85 million six months after the SLA had been signed.
- It “could be argued that the Minister intentionally ignored a Cupboard determination (of which he fashioned a part of)”, in appointing Digital Vibes.
- Dr Anban Pillay, appearing DG of the NDOH, must be prosecuted for monetary misconduct. Proof additionally signifies that he dedicated fraud in making “quite a few materials intentional misrepresentations to the Nationwide Treasury”, amongst others.
- “Ms Mather and Ms Mitha dedicated fraud in that they held out to the NDOH that Digital Vibes was tendering for the NHI media marketing campaign contract, whereas in truth, Ms Mather and Ms Mitha used Digital Vibes as a entrance” to cover the truth that they had been behind it.
- “Digital Vibes (‘owned’ by Radha Hariram) and Hariram (in her private capability) dedicated fraud” in that Digital Vibes was a entrance for Mather and Mitha.
- Digital Vibes, Hariram, Mather and Mitha contravened the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) cash laundering provisions.
- “Digital Vibes didn’t declare and pay firm tax and didn’t pay the required VAT to the South African Income Service”.
- Digital Vibes “paid an quantity of R6 720 for repairs at a property belonging to the Minister”; “transferred R300 000 … to an organization belonging to the Minister’s son [Dedani Mkhize]”; bought a second-hand motorcar for R160 000 for the Minister’s son; and by way of digital transfers to conduit events paid “vital quantities of money” to the Minister’s son. Hariram would acquire “packing containers of money from an individual” and the Minister’s son “would acquire packing containers [of cash] from her”.
- Proof obtained helps “the referral thereof to the President for functions of taking govt motion in opposition to the Minister”, and “the establishment of disciplinary motion in opposition to officers within the NDOH” – particularly Pillay, Popo Maja (head of communications), Shireen Pardesi (chief of workers), Dr Sandile Buthelezi (lately suspended DG), Senzeni Ngubane (member of the technical analysis committee or TEC), Khubane Ngobese (clerk within the division and private assistant to Pardesi), Reginald Ngcobo (TEC member) and Ian van Der Merwe (CFO). The SIU report itemises all of the irregularities/offences/misdemeanours dedicated by these officers. The chief motion in opposition to Mkhize is now moot, as he has resigned.
Digital Vibes must be “blacklisted from conducting enterprise with the general public sector”.
Mather and Mitha refused to reply questions
Mather and Mitha had been subpoenaed underneath the SIU Act “to be questioned concerning their involvement within the NHI and Covid-19 media marketing campaign associated issues”.
Their authorized consultant stated they “would refuse to reply any questions, primarily based on their Constitutional proper in opposition to self-incrimination”.
The lawyer additionally indicated that Mather and Mitha supposed to problem the constitutionality of Part 5(2)(b)&(c) of the SIU Act within the excessive courtroom
Nevertheless, they’ve since “indicated that they’d now be ready to be questioned”.
Limitations
The SIU does warning that the report “relies on information established from documentation that was supplied and/or info that was obtained throughout the course of the investigation”, and it can’t assure that it has been supplied with all related info and/or has had sights of all related documentation that could be in existence; and/or any statements or info and/or the contents of any documentation at its disposal, is/are true and proper”.
And now? Now we wait …
The SIU contends that Mkhize’s denial that he and his household had benefitted from the Digital Vibes contract at a press briefing held on Could 26, 2021 is “unfaithful”, “because the minister’s son and the minister himself (by way of property belonging to him) “had immediately benefitted from Digital Vibes, who in flip had benefitted from the NDOH contracts”.
Residents will now have to attend for the judicial course of to play out. The investigation into felony legal responsibility is ongoing.
Corruption throughout a pandemic and stealing cash that ought to have been used to avoid wasting lives is abominable. That members of the medical career allegedly took half is meaningless. If discovered responsible, Mkhize and his corrupt medical cadres have ripped aside the Hippocratic Oath.
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