Health Minister Zweli Mkhize placed on special leave
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize is said to have links to a KwaZulu-Natal company, Digital Vibes, that scored a tender from his department.
In a statement issued by the Presidency on Tuesday afternoon, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Mkhize was placed on special leave on Tuesday afternoon.
"This period of special leave will enable the Minister to attend to allegations and investigations concerning contracts between the Department of Health and a service provider, Digital Vibes.
“The Special Investigating Unit is investigating this matter and the President awaits a report on the outcome of this probe."
An independent probe recently found Digital Vibes' R150 million contract to have been irregular.
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The SIU probe is expected to be complete by the end of June.
It's emerged the company bought Mkhize's son, a second-hand bakkie and also paid money into his company's account.
Speaking to reporters in the Northern Cape earlier today, Mkhize said Dedani Mkhize would have to pay the money back.
"This had made the family quite unhappy and we are quite outraged with this and we have had to sit down and have a conversation on the matter to indicate their kind of relationship that was involved.
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"And that at the end all those funds need to be returned, but the issue is that it was based on a personal relationship which adults we have children at this age people have relationships which were not necessarily aware as to at what extent they go."
Digital Vibes also allegedly paid for maintenance work at a Johannesburg property apparently belonging to the minister's family.
Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane will act as Health Minister.
