Lungani Zungu
The chairperson of the Integrity Commission, struggle stalwart George Mashamba, confirmed that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize would appear before them this week.
Mkhize and his son Dedani are alleged to have benefitted from a R150-million tender awarded to Digital Vibes, a communications company controlled by two close associates.
Last week, Mkhize, the former premier of KZN, snubbed the health portfolio committee based on legal advice.
No structure of the ANC has publicly pledged its support for the minister – a glaring indication that Mkhize has lost the strong support he once enjoyed in the ANC. He became the party’s treasurer-general in 2012.
Scrolla.Africa understands that some senior cabinet ministers are persuading Mkhize to voluntarily step down and avoid the humiliation of being axed.
The newly re-elected ANC Northern Cape chairperson and premier, Zamani Saul, pleaded with Mkhize to respect the commission.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to reshuffle his cabinet that would see him sacking the 65-year-old cabinet minister.
Ramaphosa is in a difficult position as he walks a tightrope ahead of the ANC elective conference next December, where he is expected to run for re-election as party president. But he would be damned if he didn’t fire him and damned if he did.
The Digital Vibes dark stain has erased all the good work Mkhize had done in leading the fight against coronavirus when the pandemic hit South Africa last March.
The DA is leading the charge for Mkhize to step down after the opposition party laid criminal charges against him.
