SIU to oppose Mkhize's bid to set aside Digital Vibes report
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it will oppose former health minister Zweli Mkhize's application to have the Digital Vibes report taken under judicial review.
This after Mkhize approached the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday to have the report declared unlawful and unconstitutional.
Mkhize resigned from his top job earlier this year when he was implicated in irregular tender bidding at the department.
An SIU report found that Mkhize approved budgets amounting to approximately R132 million in respect of the NHI – and Covid-19 media campaigns.
He also allegedly signed off on R46 million, 52 days after the contract between the Health Department and Digital Vibes had already been signed.
Mkhize believes the SIU's analysis of evidence makes basic errors in law.
But the SIU maintains Mkhize failed in his oversight role.
"The review application by Dr. Mkhize does not suspend the implementation of the SIU Report. On 29 July 2021, the SIU instituted civil proceedings in the Special Tribunal under to review and set aside the Digital Vibes contracts with the NDOH. The SIU is also seeking the repayment of amounts received by a number of Respondents, including a total amount of R 22 million that was already frozen by means of a Tribunal Order that was obtained on 17 June 2021," says SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.
"One of the respondents that received money from Digital Vibes contract paid back R11,542,710 in August."
The SIU has until 9 November to file a notice of intention to oppose.
"If Dr. Mkhize wanted to try to stay the SIU Review proceedings, then he would be required to apply for stay of those proceedings, which the SIU will oppose," Kganyago adds.
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