WeeklySA_AdminSUSPECTS INVOLVED IN THE DIGITAL VIBES SCANDAL MUST COME CLEAN
THE Special Investigations Unit must be lauded for their sterling job of cracking down on culprits who are bent on destroying the economy of this country by inflating tender prices and thereby stealing millions of rands from the government.
The SIU has already recovered a substantial amount of money from these unscrupulous people and has also succeeded in obtaining court orders to freeze the assets of those involved in corrupt activities.
Their latest scalp includes six senior officials of the national department of health, who together with the former Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize have been fingered for corrupt activities in the irregular awarding of the Covid-19 media campaign contract to Digital Vibes for a whopping R150 million.
Another bidding company, Brandswell, a long standing communications company with lots of experience had submitted a quote of R69 million for the provision of the same kind of services.
Instead of opting for the lowest and more experienced bidder, the implicated department of health officials, turned a blind eye to implementing the right decision and instead awarded the contract to Digital Vibes – a decision that resulted in wasteful expenditure totalling R71 million.
The SIU conducted an intensive investigation following a tip-off by a whistle-blower and discovered a well orchestrated plan by health department officials who allegedly chose their preferred bidder long before the quotes could be submitted.
We welcome the thorough investigation by the SIU which established that six senior department of health officials were implicated in the plot to defraud the department of millions of rands. We also appreciate the swift response from the health authorities who have suspended the suspects and have also announced that disciplinary processes had been instituted against the culprits.
The SIU has also recommended that Dr. Anban Pillay, who was the Acting Director-General at the time of the awarding of the contract to Digital Vibes, should face criminal charges for financial misconduct as he is suspected of having been the master-mind behind the awarding of the contract.
The former Minister of Health has also been implicated in the report in which the SIU revealed that Digital Vibes spent about R6500 for the repairs on one of his properties. He should not be spared disciplinary action because he also benefitted from the contract. He should also come out clean and tell the truth. Real men face the music even when they do not like the tune.
The SIU must also seek legal recourse to recover the millions that had been stolen.
The SIU has done its job and is still investigating the matter. Nobody must try to destroy their sterling job of fighting corruption as promised by government. The department of health must hold these disciplinary processes as speedily as possible. The six officials must reveal their motivation for approving these irregular payments to Digital Vibes and the reason why they ignored a company that could have saved the department of health R71 million.
Only the truth shall make them free. As the saying goes, real men face the music even when they do not like the tune.
