EFF statement on Minister Mkhize and Covid-19 corruption linked to his family friend
25 February 2021
The EFF notes with utter disappointment that the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize's family friend and long-time personal spokesperson and former ex-private secretary, Tahera Mather, pocketed Covid-19 money as paid consultants through the irregular closed communication contracts from the Department of Health.
The company known as Digital Vibes has secured more than R82 million for work related to National Health Insurance (NHI) roll-out from late 2019 and was extended in March 2020 to include communications service for Covid19. Tahera Mather's relationship with Dr Mkhize dates back to 1990s when he was MEC for Health in KZN. It is alleged that this company was appointed by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
The PPE fraud saga has now extended to Covid-19 money laundering and this time with the Minister as close associate to those that are benefitting from Covid-19 pandemic debacle in South Africa. The issue of the middleman in the procurement of vaccines which has been echoed by the EFF is now exposed and many more vaccine irregularities will be exposed. Dr Mkhize is leading the Vaccine procurement nationally and globally too, and as such he cannot be trusted in this process.
The EFF will write to the Minister to demand full explanation and accountability. We shall ensure he is suspended with immediate effect to allow a smooth process of investigation.
Issued by Vuyani Pambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 25 February 2021
