Zweli Mkhize: Ramaphosa lambasted for silence on corruption allegations

The Democratic Alliance (DA) voiced their dissatisfaction with what they deem a lack of action” against Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, saying that President Cyril Ramaphosa demonstrated unwillingness to enforce the step aside policy against those in his cabinet and the ANC accused of corruption.

Last week, investigations into Mkhize’s affiliation with individuals linked to the Digital Vibes communications provider placed him at the centre of a corruption scandal that opposition parties feel should warrant his suspension from the ANC. 

DA bemoan Ramaphosa silence on Mkhize 

The DA’s Shadow Minister for Health, Siviwe Gwarube, said in a statement that Ramaphosa has failed to hold his comrades accountable for corruption, and charged that Mkhize is unsuitable to lead the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. This followed scathing disapproval of Ramaphosa’s decision to place the country on Alert Level 2 lockdown on Sunday 30 May.

“The only acceptable announcement this evening would have been that the President has instructed Minister Zweli Mkhize to step down until the finalisation of the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) investigation looking into his role in the awarding of a multi-million-rand contract to a company ran by close associates of the minister,” she said. 

“But President Ramaphosa failed to take this bold stance. Instead, he completely ignored this massive issue showing how his commitment to fighting corruption is just empty words.”

DA call for suspension of under-fire Minister  

Mkhize is accused of having been involved in the procurement and awarding of a dodgy R150 million contract awarded to Digital Vibes, a communications company where two close associates of his worked as consultants. The Health Minster has categorically denied the allegations, and maintains that he will wholeheartedly allow the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) to conduct a thorough probe into the damning claims. 

But Gwarube and the DA feel that given the position Mkize finds himself in, he should step aside while the investigation takes its course and allow a replacement to supervise South Africa’s COVID-19 efforts.

“Minister Mkhize cannot be the player and the referee in this investigation. He needs to be removed so that the SIU can conduct its work without undue political influence,” she said. 

“It cannot be that the President allows the person charged with leading the COVID-19 response in the country has damning allegations against him.”