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The Special Investigating Unit has confirmed that it was investigating a contract awarded to a KZN company that has ties to two people associated with the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Daily Maverick reported on Wednesday that Mkhize’s long-time personal spokesperson and his former private secretary had allegedly benefitted from contracts worth over R82 million awarded to Digital Vibes for work related to the Covid19 pandemic.
The publication said the two had "scored consultancy" jobs after the Department of Health appointed Digital Vibes "in late 2019 through a contentious closed tender to provide communications services for the government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) roll-out."
It said the scope of the work was extended in March 2020 to include communications services for Covid-19.
According to Daily Maverick, the Health Department said there was no conflict of interest, but said it was investigating the deal.
SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, told Algoa FM News on Thursday that they had received a complaint from a whistle-blower.
"The SIU can confirm that we have received allegations from a whistleblower, who we cannot name. It is in relation to the procurement processes of the Department of Health and not specifically about the individual," he said.
Kganyago said the SIU took on the matter as it believed that it falls within the scope of the proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa last year.
Minister Mkhize said in a subsequent statement that he welcomed the probe.
