Digital Vibes report: Ramaphosa just as ‘dishonest’ as Mkhize

Former health minister Zweli Mkhize may have lied to the nation, but President Cyril Ramaphosa was also dishonest over the last four months, as he protected the former health minister from scrutiny regarding the Digital Vibes saga.

So says political analyst Xolani Dube, as political parties have called for heads to roll and criminal proceedings to be levelled against four senior health officials accused of fraud and corruption alongside Mkhize.

Seven National Department of Health (NDOH) officials are named in the SIU report on its investigation into a R150 million media campaign tender awarded to Digital Vibes, in a scheme which saw Mkhize’s friends and family members benefit.

Ramaphosa was handed the report in June this year, after which he suspended Mkhize. The former minister resigned shortly before a cabinet reshuffle in August.

And while the president had four months to study report, and despite the damning findings against his former health minister, he continued to defend him even on Wednesday afternoon, after the report had been made public.

Ramaphosa, during a media briefing, said: “Minister Mkhize served the people well,” despite the report saying he should be criminally charged for his role in the corruption.

Ramaphosa said the ANC has committed itself to act against corruption and that their failure to act at the pace expected by the public should not be mistaken for reluctance. He suggested that seeing the party act may actually serve them well going into the elections.

Dube has accused Ramaphosa of dishonesty in how he handled the matter, saying his four-month silence on the details of the report made him seem like he was protecting those implicated.

Also Read: Hawks and health department ‘studying’ SIU report into Digital Vibes contract

‘Always saying one thing and doing another’

“The man is coming across as untrustworthy. He is not a good role model for our children, when he is always saying one thing and doing another. He promised swift action against those implicated in Covid-19 corruption, but then he sits on this report for four months. How can we expect any truthfulness from a man like that?” he argues.

What makes this scandal especially hard to swallow is the fact that it involves human tragedy, as thousands of people have died from Covid-19 while money meant to combat the pandemic was being squandered, he adds.

Dube suspects that Ramaphosa may have been trying to hold off releasing the SIU report on Digital Vibes until after the Local Government Election, because the report seriously implicates ANC members as well. He says Ramaphosa likely did not release the report of his own volition, but may have given into growing threats of court action to force him to release it.

Mkhize was exposed has having lied to the media earlier this year when he denied he or his family members and associates benefited from the Digital Vibes contract.

At a press briefing that was held on 26 May 2021 regarding the Digital Vibes contract, the Minister denied that he or his family had benefited from the deal. This denial was, objectively speaking, untrue, as the Minister’s son and the Minister himself (via property belonging to him) had directly benefitted from Digital Vibes, who in turn had benefitted from the NDOH contracts.

SIU Report on its investigation into the NDOH Digital Vibes contract

Parties bay for blood

Opposition parties want urgent action taken against the so called “Digital Vibes Four” and others implicated in the saga, and have suggested authorities have been dragging their feet.

Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube says criminal investigations need to be opened against Mkhize and his alleged co-conspirators, Director-General Dr Sandile Buthelezi, Deputy-Director General Dr Anban Pillay, and the Department’s CFO, Ian Van Der Merwe to face criminal charges.

On Wednesday morning, both the The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, otherwise known as the Hawks and the NDOH said they were studying the report before divulging on any action they would take in response to it.

The report suggests these officials broke the law by contravening the Public Finance Management Amendment Act (PFMA). In the report, the SIU says it has obtained evidence justifying the institution of disciplinary action against seven NDOH officials.

President @CyrilRamaphosa 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 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 29, 2021

“It is also important that SAPS must now update the country and must update the NPA as it begins its work on the investigations that have taken place until now. You will recall that two months ago we had laid criminal charges against (Mkhize) and Dr Buthelezi,” says Gwarube.

“Therefore its going to be quite important for SAPS to indicate what work has been done over the past two months so that they can collaborate with the NPA and so we can see a swift investigation and swift prosecution for those who have been found guilty.”

[Read] The SIU has found that the awarding of the infamous NHI and COVID-19 communications contracts to Digital Vibes was “fraudulent, irregular” and “made a mockery of purported approved supply chain management” deviations that are allowed for govt depts https://t.co/nniRu7ol9B pic.twitter.com/wYAxo3ar6Y

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) September 29, 2021

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) also decried the long wait the public had to endure while Ramaphosa was supposedly applying his mind.

The party expressed their distaste for the fact that several officials, associates and family members of Mkhize benefited and were involved in the alleged criminality.

“Beyond the financial benefits accrued by the concerned individuals, the IFP notes Mkhize’s direct involvement in the unprocedural appointment of officials at the DoH, which has far-reaching consequences for transparency and accountability in the public service,” says IFP president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Simnikiweh@citizen.co.za

• Additional Reporting by Earl Coetzee