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BL Premium reports that the Department of Health (DOH) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against officials implicated in the hard-hitting report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the Digital Vibes corruption scandal, in which R150m was funnelled to an obscure communications company run by close associates of former health minister Zweli Mkhize.
Acting health director-general Nicholas Crisp said the department had not seen the report before its public release on Wednesday, but had worked closely with SIU investigators. The department had appointed independent investigators to probe implicated employees, and disciplinary charges were being drawn up, he indicated. “It’s complicated, multilayered, and serious,” Crisp pointed out. The report places deputy director-general Anban Pillay at the centre of the scandal and recommends he face criminal charges for fraud and financial misconduct for alleged misrepresentations to the National Treasury about the Digital Vibes tender. The report also details the role played by key officials, most of whom are still employed by the DOH, in allegedly rigging the tender process to ensure Digital Vibes was awarded the contract, and recommends that disciplinary action be taken against them. They include Pillay, head of communications Popo Maja, chief director Shireen Pardesi and her personal assistant, as well as former CFO Ian van der Merwe, who recently resigned. The SIU also recommended disciplinary action be instituted against director-general Sandile Buthelezi, who is on precautionary suspension.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusienssLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page