For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Health Minister promises suspensions before end of day, ANC activists urge NPA to charge those implicated in Digital Vibes contract and, World Bank head sees situation in Sudan improving

Health Minister promises suspensions before end of day

National Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has promised to fast-track the matter of corruption in the Digital Vibes tender as a matter of urgency and promised that all officials implicated will be served with suspension letters before the end of business today.

Phaahla said his department wanted to fast-track the matter so that more focus is directed towards the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as other department work.

The SIU report found that former Health Minister Dr Zweli 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.

Irregular expenditure amounting to about R150-million, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure of between R72-million and R80-million, were incurred by the Department of Health, according to the findings.

ANC activists urge NPA to charge those implicated in Digital Vibes contract

A group of ANC activists, known as the Strategic Dialogue Group has called on the National Prosecuting Authority to immediately refer charges against those found to have acted unethically and illegally in the awarding of the tender for, and everyone who unduly benefitted from, the Digital Vibes contract.

On Wednesday President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the release of the SIU’s report into the Digital Vibes contract.

The SDG noted and welcomed the report, saying the Digital Vibes scandal is one of the most “repugnant episodes in post-apartheid corruption” perpetrated by some civil servants and public representatives.

World Bank head sees situation in Sudan improving

Sudan is making progress as it reconnects with the global economy but patience is needed as the country seeks to tackle shortages and attract investment, the visiting head of the World Bank has said.

Sudan's economy has been mired in a crisis that led to the overthrow of former leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and has continued since.

Last week authorities said they had thwarted an attempted coup, and civilian groups are calling for pro-democracy protests in Khartoum.

After meeting Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, David Malpass said Sudan is making a transition from a violent situation, from a situation of shortages to the situation that is gradually improving.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter[PolityZA]