Lungani Zungu
Dr Zweli Mkhize rose steadily up the ranks to become the health minister in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet.
But now the man who once had ambitions to become ANC president finds himself in the wilderness.
This comes after Ramaphosa put him on special leave as health minister pending the outcome of an investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into the R150-million Digital Vibes saga.
Mkhize is alleged to have benefitted from the contract that was issued by his department to the communications company.
Is this the end of Mkhize’s political career?
One cabinet minister said they expect Ramaphosa to drop the axe on Mkhize when the SIU report is finalised.
“Mkhize knows that it’s over for him. And at his age, I don’t see him waging a fightback.”
The 65 year old has lost the backing he once commanded in KZN, a province he led as premier and ANC chairperson.
Some of his former allies are now backing Ramaphosa while others support the Radical Economic Transformation ANC faction aligned to former president Jacob Zuma.
He is a lonely figure now, left to fight his own political battles by himself.
Not a single ANC region or province came to his defence as he fought to save his political career.
Another cabinet member who spoke to Scrolla.Africa said Mkhize was too weak to wage a fight back.
“To be quite frank, I’m sure he is not even thinking about it. In politics, you don’t fight when you find yourself in a weak position.”
Mkhize, the former ANC treasurer-general, is now an ordinary member of the National
Executive Committee (NEC).
He is set to appear before the ANC Integrity Commission (IC), chaired by George Mashamba this week.
