The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Wednesday it will report former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to Parliament’s Executive Ethics Committee for possibly violating sections of the Ethics Code.

Last week President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the release of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report into the Digital Vibes contract, which implicated Mkhize for awarding a Covid-19 communications contract to a firm run by his former aides.

During the relevant period, Digital Vibes also paid R6 720 for repairs at a property belonging to Mkhize.

On May 2, 2020, Digital Vibes transferred R300 000 to a company belonging to Mkhize’s son.

The report further revealed that on May 4, 2020, Digital Vibes paid R160 000 to a Pietermaritzburg car dealership for the purchase of a second-hand 2003 Toyota Land Cruiser, registered in the name of Mkhize’s son.

The party said as a paid member of Parliament, Mkhize is answerable to Parliament and South Africans.

“The Ethics Committee has an obligation to investigate this matter as a function of legislative oversight on the Executive and make a finding based on the evidence before it compiled by the SIU. There is precedent for this kind of work as was seen during the Dina Pule saga several years ago,” said DA Shadow Minister of Health Siviwe Gwarube.

She said based on the SIU report, the party can make a case to the Executive Ethics Committee that Mkhize acted in a way that is inconsistent with his position.

Gwarube added that Mkhize used his position to enrich himself, his family and his associates.

“The SIU report states clearly that there is irrefutable evidence that the Digital Vibes owners were not only close associates of the former Minister but also routinely gave money to his family and made security upgrades to his home,” she said.

She further said Mkhize failed to divulge a conflict of interest between his official responsibilities and private interests.