More Bad News for Zweli Mkhize, Name Comes Up During Multimillion Rand Tender Scandal, Under Investigation
- Former minister of health Zweli Mkhize's name has been implicated in another scandal which is under investigation'
- Mkhize is said to have been part of a security services tender that skyrocketed from R3.5 million to R114 million
- The Special Investigating Unit is probing the matter and found that a motivation letter was sent to Mkhize regarding the tender
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
JOHANNESBURG - The former minister of health Zweli Mkhize has been dragged into another scandal which is being probed by the Special Investigating Unit.
Mkhize was named in connection with a tender that skyrocketed from R3.5 million to R114 million.
Source: Getty Images
An investigation revealed that an irregular contract was awarded to Universal Security Services (USS) for the running of forensic risk services, Operation Unembeza by the provincial treasury, News24 reported. The investigation conducted by the SIU was completed in February last year and disclosed that the irregularities were noted in 2007.
At the time of the scandal, Mkhize held the position of KwaZulu-Natal Finance and Economic Development MEC. An SIU investigator signed an affidavit that stated the former head of KZN treasury Sipho Shabalala drafted a letter to Mkhize to motivate Operation Unembeza to be implemented throughout the departments in the provincial government. According to The Citizen, it is unclear if Mkhize replied to Shabalala’s letter.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!
The project was later rolled out throughout provincial government structures and the cost inflated. According to the SIU, documents will be filed with the Special Tribunal with the purpose of having the contract declared unlawful.
Social media weighs in
South Africans are not fazed by the scandal and aired their feelings on social media:
Maile Mashabela said:
“It's no longer surprising to hear of ANC senior members being involved in corruption! In fact, they are all like that, no one of them can come out and claim to be a Messiah.”
Chilly Bite Jenje commented:
“This man did what Ace Magashule did he looted too much now he is busy and wants to bounce back to finish what he left. He also doesn’t feel pity for the poor.”
Eben Otto wrote:
“Seems he is fast becoming a serial taxpayer thief.”
Honourable Mothomogolo-Letsoalo added:
“He’s beyond repair just like the entire ANC officials.”
COPE, DA, find Ethics Committee ruling of Former Health Minister in the Digital Vibes scandal, disgusting
In a related matter, Briefly News also reported political parties have slammed Parliament’s ethics committee decision to clear former Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize following the Digital Vibes scandal. Mkhize had allegedly benefited from an irregular tender from Digital Vibes.
The Congress of the People (COPE) said the decision to clear the former minister was disgusting. National Spokesperson of COPE Dennis Bloem said that the African National Congress (ANC) is not serious about rooting out corruption and compared the case to the Nkandla scandal according to SABC News.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) deputy chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube called the decision disappointing. He questioned how Mkhize remained a minister of parliament he was being investigated Eyewitness News reported.
Source: Briefly News
