Arthur Greene
Dedani Mkhize and his wife, Sthoko Mkhize, received funds from the R150m Covid-19 contracts awarded to Digital Vibes to set up a Tammy Taylor Nails outlet and Gold Ace Cuts and Curls hair salon.
An investigation carried out by Daily Maverick has shown that multiple transactions made their way from the Department of Health to Digital Vibes, before ending up at these businesses.
The damning revelation shows that money intended to help South Africa fight its worst ever health crisis was instead bankrolling beauty salons being run by the health minister’s son and daughter-in-law.
A sum of R650,000 coming from the Health Department was used to open a Tammy Taylor Nails franchise at the Midlands Mall in Pietermaritzburg, in December 2020.
Pictures of 34-year-old Sthoko, the proud new owner of the nail salon, circulated on social media that evening.
Later, R446 000 from the R150 million contract was used to start a new hair salon, Gold Ace Cuts and Curls, also in Pietermaritzburg. The hair salon and cafe is owned by 33-year-old Dedani.
When approached for comment by the Daily Maverick, the minister’s son rejected any notion that he benefited from alleged money-laundering linked to the Digital Vibes deal.
“This obsession of trying to make it look like I took Digital Vibes money is just crazy,” he said in July.
In the same conversation, however, he seemed to suggest otherwise:
“I have already formally informed the SIU that should the gifts that I have received from Ms Tahera Mather since 2015 be proven to have been from irregular state contracts, I am prepared to repay such monies directly to the state.”
Tahera Mather is Zweli Mkhize’s longtime personal spokesperson and one of the alleged masterminds behind the Digital Vibes scheme.
This revelation comes just a day after the Health Minister told Scrolla.Africa that he would accept any decision made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in regards to his future.
The president has hinted at a cabinet reshuffle and is coming under mounting pressure to axe the embattled health minister.
Image source: @PLMyburgh
