TimesLIVE reports that Department of Health director-general Sandile Buthelezi has been placed on precautionary suspension over his alleged role in the Digital Vibes tender saga.

The same contract led to the suspension, followed by the resignation, of former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Health ministry spokesperson Foster Mohale on Sunday confirmed that Buthelezi has been suspended after a report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the alleged tender fraud. The report has yet to be released publicly. Buthelezi will face a disciplinary hearing regarding his role in the Digital Vibes matter. Mohale said that while the R150m Digital Vibes communications contract was already in place when Buthelezi assumed the role of director-general in 2019, it was what he potentially failed to do afterwards that resulted in his suspension. “Like in any organisation, the issue of the accounting authority obviously requires that it be checked whether they were aware or not. So it’s not to say that he has awarded the contract, because it was awarded before he arrived, but he took over and the contract continued even then. When they investigated, they regarded [the DG as head] of the accounting authority so if they found that it was unlawful, they have questioned what did he do about it,” said Mohale. It was not immediately clear whether the suspension had resulted in Buthelezi’s salary being withheld.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Naledi Shange at TimesLIVE

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