The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) made findings against him in its Digital Vibes contract probe.

Mkhize’s department awarded a R150-million contract, in 2019, to Digital Vibes to provide communication services for government’s National Health Insurance and, later, its Covid-19 response.

Digital Vibes was linked to aides of Mkhize’s.

According to court documents, the SIU made findings against him for unlawful and improper conduct and wants his family to repay about R4-million.

DA Shadow Minister of Health Siviwe Gwarube said Mkhize must be fired, criminally investigated and face the law if found to be guilty. 

Gwarube said Ramaphosa no longer had an excuse to not table the SIU report handed over to him three weeks ago, saying clearly the SIU had revealed wrongdoing on the part of Mkhize.

“This is the final nail in the coffin for Mkhize. Now that the public knows what’s in the report the President must fire him. The DA calls on President Ramaphosa to show his mettle by cleaning up his Cabinet and appointing a permanent Minister of Health who is capable and beyond reproach,” Gwarube said.

The DA welcomed the move by the SIU to recoup the millions in public funds wasted on the Digital Vibes contract, with the DA saying this was another step closer to accountability for those involved in this scandal.