The Presidency has asked the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for further information on its Digital Vibes investigation that led to Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize “standing aside” over a R150m tender, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) told Parliament, reports TimesLIVE.
The SIU handed its report to the Presidency on June 30 and additional information was requested on July 2. “They are not in a position to deal with the matter [in the committee] until it is finalised,” said Scopa chair Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
Hlengwa lambasted the presidency’s acting minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni for not attending the meeting.
“I sent correspondence through to the acting minister in the Presidency on June 24. Yesterday I received correspondence from the acting minister indicating that in their view, the SIU is best placed to brief the committee on these matters as they are merely the recipients of the reports.”
Hlengwa said the presidency, insofar as the processing of the reports is concerned, was responsible to account to the committee because that is where the reports are submitted. “The SIU cannot be a player and a referee in its own investigative processes. This morning I received correspondence again from the minister indicating two things — leave of absence from this meeting and that she will be attending the National Coronavirus Command Council meeting.”
He said she signalled that “they are not in a position in any case to speak about the personal protective equipment (PPE) reports the SIU are giving them because those are updates and not the final reports".
TimesLIVE story Presidency has asked SIU for more info on Digital Vibes, Scopa hears (Open access)
See also from MedicalBrief archives:
Digital Vibes corruption: Mkhize's 'special leave' may be permanent
SIU still probing R82m tender linked to Mkhize
Mkhize 'welcomes' SIU probe into claims of COVID tenders for friends