REVEALED: More links between Zweli Mkhize and Digital Vibes – report

Further details of Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize having allegedly benefited from the Digital Vibes contract have emerged, thanks to Daily Maverick’s investigative journalism efforts. The latest revelations come just days after the publication uncovered damning links between Mkhize and the communications company – R300 000 sent to a company belonging to the minister’s son Dedani Mkhize.

Here’s a short recap: 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 vehemently denied having any knowledge of these irregular processes, however, and maintains his innocence.

Digital Vibes bought a car for Mkhize Jr.

Now it has also emerged that in May 2020, Digital Vibes forked out R160 000 for a 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser at a Pietermaritzburg car dealership. Who drives the vehicle? None other than Zweli Mkhize’s son. If the latest probe is anything to go by, the suggestion is that Mkhize Jr. has been benefitting from the lucrative contract.

At the time of the transaction, the Department of Health had only paid about R50 million to the company. According to Daily Maverick, other than two minor payments from the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent, an entity of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Digital Vibes’ source of income has primarily come from the department.

The Digital Vibes saga has prompted calls for Mkhize to be given the axe. For now, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is still busy with the probe and said it would only be concluded at the end of June. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that for now, he awaits the outcome of that investigation, which could inform his next step in the matter.

“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.