SIU granted preservation order, freezes R22m linked to Digital Vibes
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted an order by the Special Tribunal to freeze R22 million held in accounts linked to Digital Vibes.
The preservation order forms part of the SIU's investigation into the R150 million Covid-19 communications tender awarded by the Department of Health to the controversial communications company.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has also been placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa amid the ongoing investigation into the contract.
READ: Mkhize facing criminal charge over Digital Vibes
SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago says the investigation has found two highly irregular transactions between Digital Vibes and the department.
"The first transaction is a procurement process in 2019 in terms of which Digital Vibes was appointed to perform communications services relating to the National Health Insurance.
“The second transaction occurred in 2020 during the tenure of the first transaction when Digital Vibes was ‘appointed’ in respect of a Covid-19 awareness campaign without any competitive bidding or another procurement process at all.
"The Covid-19 awareness campaign was merely brought in as an extension to the contract between the Department and Digital Vibes in respect of the NHI media campaign, in circumstances where such an extension was irregular and unlawful.
“Furthermore, the department utilised the budget allocated for the NHI contract and NHI media campaign to pay for the purported Covid-19 media campaign work allegedly performed by Digital Vibes," said Kganyago.
READ: Health Department ‘will support law enforcement’ in Digital vibes probe
Digital Vibes first received R25 million for the NHI media campaign and approximately R125 million in relation to the Covid-19 campaign.
The R22 million that has been frozen is locked in investments accounts that are controlled by Digital Vibes, former spokesperson and Mkhize associate Tahera Mather and her associate Suhaila Mather.
