Cape Town – Former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has reportedly been cleared by Parliament’s ethics committee of contravening the Member of Parliament’s (MP) code of ethics in relation to the Digital Vibes scandal.
According to News24, the Digital Vibes communications company was unlawfully awarded a R150 million contract to run the department of health’s National Health Insurance (NHI) communications campaign and then its Covid-19 campaign.
An investigation was launched by the Special Investigating Unit into the company. It was found that Mkhize and his family allegedly benefitted from the Digital Vibes contract, according to The Citizen.
The Unit discovered that Mkhize received R6 720 for home repairs, while his son, Dedani Mkhize, allegedly received R460 000 from the communications company.
Following the findings, Democratic Alliance (DA) deputy chief whip Siviwe Gwarube filed a complaint against Mkhize with Parliament’s ethics committee.
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According to Times Live, Gwarube said that Mkhize’s conduct was in breach of the MP’s ethics conduct which stated that a “member may not lobby for any remuneration or receive any reward, benefit or gift for that member or for the immediate family of that member or the business partner of that member or immediate family of that member, for making such representation as a member on behalf of any person or body”.
A final judgment to Gwarube’s complaint against Mkhize was delivered by the committee on April, 12. The committee found Mkhize not guilty of any misconduct.
Concerning the complaint that Mkhize benefited from R6 720 in-home repairs, the committee said that the owner of 4 Way Maintenance, the company that did the work at Mkhize’s home, did not liaise with Mkhize but rather with Thamsanqa Mkhize, a person who was not an MP but shared the same surname with the former minister.
“In this regard, the committee concluded that Hon Dr Z Mkhize did not breach the code. In the light of the above, the complaint file in this matter is accordingly closed,” the report quoted the judgment.
ALSO READ: Zweli Mkhize ‘served the nation well’, says Cyril Ramaphosa despite damning SIU report
On the complaint that his son benefitted R460 000 from the communications company, the committee said that the provisions of the code could not be applied to hold Mkhize liable for the alleged benefit received by his adult son.
“The code defines an immediate family member as ‘a member’s spouse, permanent companion or dependents’. In this regard, the provisions of the code cannot be applied to hold the MP liable for the alleged benefit received by his son,” said the judgement as quoted by the report.
Mkhize resigned from the cabinet last year after the SIU recommended that the president take executive action against him in relation to the matter, according to Mail & Guardian.
Mkhize is expected to hear from the special tribunal whether he has a case against the SIU on Wednesday.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
