SIU case over Digital Vibes continues

FORMER Health Minister Dr. Zweli Mkhize has lost his bid to delay the Special Investigating Unit's (SIU's) case pending his high court review of its damning report into the unlawful R150 million Digital Vibes contract.

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

Mkhize, the chairperson of the National Assembly's portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs, had wanted the Special Tribunal to stay the SIU's main application to force him, other individuals and companies to repay R150m to the National Department of Health (NDOH), including interest at the prescribed rate calculated from the date of the judgment.

In the matter, which is still pending before the tribunal, the SIU also wants the repayment to be less the amounts already successfully forfeited to the State and successfully recovered from several respondents.

Additionally, the corruption-busting unit wants the costs to be paid by Mkhize, Digital Vibes, its director Tahera Mather, Mkhize's former personal assistant Naadhira Mitha, petrol station manager Radha Hariram and Welcome Mthethwa, the husband of former ANC staffer Makhosazana Mthethwa, and any other respondent opposing the application.

In his Gauteng High Court, Pretoria application, Mkhize is seeking an order declaring the SIU's conduct in making adverse findings, conclusions and recommendations against him in its investigation into a contract awarded by the NDOH to Digital Vibes to be unlawful and unconstitutional.

The former KwaZulu-Natal Premier also wants the unit's referral letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding its investigation of the NDOH/Digital Vibes contracts to be reviewed and set aside as well as its report in so far as it makes adverse findings, conclusions and recommendations against him.