Former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has been cleared by Parliament’s ethics committee from any involvement in the Digital Vibes scandal.
This despite his son, Dedani Mkhize benefitting from the deal to the tune of R460-000.
Mkhizewas cleared of benefitting from the R150-million Digital Vibes contract when the committee ruled that he did not breach the ethics code.
The two complaints raised by the DA’s Siviwe Gwarube, included the benefits Dedani received to the total of R460,000 and a R6,720 amount that Mkhize was said to have received for electrical work done at his Cranbrook property in Bryanston.
According to the committee, Mkhize’s son and his daughter-in-law benefitted from the irregular tender.
“The committee noted that your son is an adult, married individual who is not financially dependent on you. In this regard, the provisions of the code cannot be applied to hold you, as the Member of Parliament, liable for the alleged benefit received by your son.”
However Gwarube cited that Mkhize’s failure to disclose the benefit meant a breach of ethics.
But the committee ruled that there is no evidence to suggest that Mkhize used money from the Digital Vibes tender to settle the amount for his Bryanston home.
Meanwhile, the DA has expressed its disappointment that Zweli Mkhize has been cleared on the basis that he would only be liable if it were his spouse or children dependent on him that were involved.
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