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The Special Investigating Unit's probe into the Digital Vibes contract found that former health minister Zweli Mkhize is at the centre of the scandal and that his family benefited from funds flowing from the controversial tender.
In 2019, the Department of Health, under Mkhize's political leadership, awarded Digital Vibes R150 million for a communications campaign related to the National Health Insurance. In 2020, the Daily Maverick exposed Mkhize's involvement in awarding the tender. In the wake of the expose, early last year the SIU launched an investigation into the scandal.
The SIU found that Mkhize had influenced the awarding of the contract by putting pressure on former director-general Malebona Matsoso to appoint Digital Vibes, in contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Digital Vibes was controlled by Tahera Mather and her niece Naadhira Mitha. Mather is Mkhize's former strategic communications advisor.
