Digital Vibes: Ramaphosa awaiting SIU report before acting

President Cyril Ramaphosa is treading carefully as anger mounts over the Digital Vibes scandal involving Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize – remaining mum on the matter and instead opting to await the outcomes of a report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

It was learnt via Daily Maverick that two women linked to Mkhize – Tahera Mather and Naadhira Mitha benefited from Digital Vibes’ R150 million contract with the Department of Health by working for the company as paid consultants.

It is alleged that Digital Vibes wildly inflated the costs of setting up Mkhize’s briefings during the COVID-19 pandemic, with funds from the DoH funneled into a host of obscure third-party bank accounts. The minister has denied having any knowledge of these irregular processes, however, and declared his innocence during a media address earlier this week.

Ramaphosa not acting yet on Digital Vibes saga

Now facing calls to give his minister the axe, President Cyril Ramaphosa is now looking to the outcomes of the SIU probe on Digital Vibes, to determine the way forward.

“I hear there are various calls that are being made and I heard them, and I would like to see the SIU report and to look at the matter quite closely myself, and thereafter we will take the matter forward,” said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa had been meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who was on a state visit to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, 28 May 2021.

“I know that they are working quite fast to come up with a report and I would say that until that has been done, I’d like to be given the time to consider what they will come up with and thereafter we will be able to handle the matter.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa

While the SIU probe will only be concluded by the end of June, the unit has already announced steps to recover the funds overspent on the contract. The SIU is taking legal action to have the contract cancelled.