Digital Vibes: Health Dept wants to HIDE identities of those implicated

The Digital Vibes scandal is back on the news agenda: The Department of Health made an appearance before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health on Thursday, 17 June 2021 – nearly a week after Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize was placed on special leave, in the wake of the saga.

The department’s director-general Dr Sandile Buthelezi, appeared alongside acting minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.

Buthelezi urged MPs not to force him to reveal the names of those who may be implicated in the Digital Vibes debacle, particularly because the matter is still being probed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

“We request that the identity of implicated individuals not be disclosed at this stage to avoid compromising the investigation and consequence-management processes that are under way,” he said.

SIU probe into Digital Vibes not yet concluded

The SIU is looking at finalising its investigation into the Digital Vibes contract by the end of June and Buthelezi has assured the committee that they have been fully cooperative and are also in constant communication.

“The department has co-operated fully with this investigation by the SIU. They have requested a number of documents, which we have provided. They have requested some IT equipment, which was provided too. They have requested some affidavits from specific individuals which were provided, and have had various consultations with various individuals including the DG.”

The health department’s director-general Dr Sandile Buthelezi

Buthelezi further added that the SIU is yet to hand over its report on the probe, which they are waiting for.

Kubayi-Ngubane has also told MPs that they were cautious not to compromise the investigations.

“We are trying our best to comply with what parliament requires of us, but equally we try to ensure (that) those who do investigations don’t come tomorrow and say we were inhibitors or have been obstructing justice… We don’t want to be found to have obstructed justice,” she said.

Here’s a reminder: 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.

What is known so far: Digital Vibes paid R300 000 to a company belonging to Mkhize’s son, Dedani and also bought him a R160 000 Toyota Land Cruiser for his farm in Pietermaritzburg. As if that wasn’t enough, the company also paid R7 000 for maintenance work done on the Mkhize family’s plush Bryanston townhouse.