BREAKING: Ramaphosa authorises release of SIU’s Digital Vibes report

President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally given the green light for the release of The Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) report into the multimillion rand Digital Vibes contract.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised publication of the final report of the Special Investigating Unit into the National Department of Health’s award of a National Health Insurance media campaign and subsequent COVID-19 communications to Digital Vibes,” the Presidency said in a statement.

Ramaphosa has been criticised for being slow in releasing the long-awaited report.

Ramaphosa: Digital Vibes report now public

The SIU found that the R150 million Digital Vibes contract had been unlawfully awarded, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to place then health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on special leave in June.

According to the SIU, both Mkhize and his son Dedani received several millions of rands from the company, which was run by two women who are believed to be closely-linked to the ex-minister.

Ramaphosa received the damning report in the beginning of July – and the release comes nearly a week after the Health Department’s Director-General Dr Sandile Buthelezi was placed on suspension.

After being handed the report, the Presidency said Ramaphosa gave the relevant parties cited in the scandal an opportunity to voice their objections to it being made public. Buthelezi took on the DG job in June last year, when the Digital Vibes contract had already been signed off.

“The Presidency subsequently sent third-party notices to all persons or entities referred to in the report, so they could have an opportunity to object to its publication or part thereof. This was done in the interest of fairness and in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), following a number of PAIA applications by persons and parties who wished to have sight of the report”

The full report is available on the presidency website – that’s www.thepresidency.gov.za