Tebogo Msimanga |
The criminal syndicate that is the ANC of today must be voted out in this election.This is according to Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Health Siviwe Gwarube
She said the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) report into Digital Vibes shows the depth of corruption in the governing party – present in all fields and spheres of government. “President Cyril Ramaphosa sat on the report for a full 3 months and has used delaying tactics to not make it public. President Ramaphosa must take full accountability for this scandal.”
Gwarube said President Ramaphosa publicly thanked former minister Zweli Mkhize when he stepped down in light of this scandal, despite having this report in his possession and knowing the scathing contents thereof.
“We call on the National Prosecuting Authority to pursue criminal investigations and prosecutions against the “Digital Vibes 4” which includes Mkhize, Director-General, Dr Sandile Buthelezi as well as the Deputy-Director General, Dr Anban Pillay, and the Department’s CFO, Ian Van Der Merwe.”
The DA is calling on the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, to clean up the rot in the Department of Health with the immediate removal of all those implicated in the Digital Vibes corruption scandal pending a criminal investigation.
Gwarube added that the report has confirmed what they have always known, “that all those who have been implicated in this corruption scandal must be criminally investigated and prosecuted.”
The Key findings from the SIU report demonstrate how deeply the rot of corruption has seeped into the workings of the Department of Health.It shows how former minister Mkhize and his son benefited from Digital Vibes. R300 000 was transferred to Mkhize’s son. According to the report,Digital Vibes paid for repairs to Mkhize’s home whilst he was still minister.
The department spent approximately R 125 million in respect of its Covid-19 media campaign, despite a quotation of only approximately R35 million for these services had been approved.
“Mkhize claimed that costing was done for the Digital Vibes contract however the SIU saw no evidence of it. Therefore, the price was clearly inflated from R35 million to R125 million under Digital Vibes.”
Gwarube reiterated that the DA will not let this matter go until justice is served for those who lost their lives when the country battled this pandemic while the government facilitated grand theft of resources.
