Dylan Bettencourt
While embattled Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize is already facing an investigation into his involvement in R150 million tender irregularities, the Public Protector has just handed him another headache.
The Public Protector is opening a contempt case against Mkhize following his failure to honour a summons to attend a court hearing.
The Public Protector is investigating a complaint made by a clinical associate, Sanele Ngcobo, who wants the Department of Health to implement the recommendations of a Report of the Clinical Associate National Task team in 2017.
“He failed to present himself on all three occasions, with his office advising each time that he was unavailable,” said a statement from the Public Protector’s office.
They said they will now open a case against the minister at the Brooklyn police station in Hatfield.
This is not the first time Mkhize has found himself in hot water of late.
As reported by Scrolla.Africa, Mkhize stated that he had no part to play in a R150 million tender being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
The SIU is investigating a tender given to communications agency Digital Vibes which is controlled by two of the minister’s former associates. Mkhize said he knows the two individuals but neither he or his former associates benefitted from the tender.
The investigation is set to be concluded at the end of this month with Mkhize adamant that if there are any irregularities found during the investigation with proof of the misuse of state funds, they must be recovered immediately.
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