BL Premium reports that health minister Joe Phaahla announced on Thursday morning that six health department officials implicated in the Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU’s) investigation into the Digital Vibes scandal were to be placed on precautionary suspension.

That will bring the total number of health department staff that will be out of circulation to seven, as director-general Sandile Buthelezi was placed on precautionary suspension on Sunday by President Cyril Ramaphosa. A precautionary suspension is imposed by an employer ahead of an investigation that is expected to pave the way for a disciplinary procedure. It is intended to ensure the employee does not interfere with the investigation. On Wednesday, the president authorised the release of the SIU’s report on its investigation into communication contracts awarded by the health department to Digital Vibes. The SIU found the circumstances in which the department awarded the R150m contract, which was initially for National Health Insurance and then expanded to cover Covid-19, were highly irregular and breached procurement rules set out in the Public Finance Management Act. Acting director-general Nicholas Crisp said the government had strict rules in place governing procurement, but the department had stepped up its vigilance and was regularly seeking legal guidance to mitigate the risk of another scandal.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)

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