×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Parliament's ethics committee clears Zweli Mkhize of breaching MPs' code of conduct over Digital Vibes

Andisiwe Makinana Political correspondent
Parliament has cleared former health minister Zweli Mkhize of contravening its code of ethics, saying he cannot be held liable for his adult son benefiting from Digital Vibes contract.
Parliament has cleared former health minister Zweli Mkhize of contravening its code of ethics, saying he cannot be held liable for his adult son benefiting from Digital Vibes contract.
Image: gallo images

Parliament’s ethics committee has cleared former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize of contravening the MPs' code of ethics in relation to the Digital Vibes scandal.

The joint committee on ethics and members’ interests finalised Mkhize's case on Monday and concluded he could not be held liable for his adult son allegedly benefiting from the Digital Vibes contract. It also found he did not breach the code over maintenance work done at his home amounting to R6,720.

The committee said it considered a complaint laid by DA MP Siviwe Gwarube in two parts — that his son is alleged to have received benefits from Digital Vibes to the tune of R300,000 and R160,000 and that Mkhize himself received benefits from the same company totalling R6,720 for electrical work done at his Cranbrook property in Bryanston.

“In respect of part 1 above, the committee noted that in order for an MP to be held liable for a benefit that a family member is alleged to have received, the family member (the son) must fit within the definition of immediate family member as defined in the code of ethical conduct and disclosure of members’ interests for assembly and permanent council members,” wrote advocate Anthea Gordon, the ethics committee’s acting registrar.

She explained that the code defines immediate family member as “a member’s spouse, permanent companion or dependents”.

The committee said Mkhize’s son was an adult, married individual who is not financially dependent on him.

“In this regard, the provisions of the code cannot be applied to hold the MP liable for the alleged benefit received by his son.

“In this regard, the committee found that the member did not breach the code.”

The ethics committee also cleared Mkhize of the second part of the complaint saying he did not breach MPs’ code.

It said in addition to the information that Gwarube and Mkhize provided, relevant invoices that it sourced which amounted to R6,720 and an affidavit of the owner of 4 Way Maintenance, the company that did the work at Mkhize’s home, it considered that Thamsanqa Mkhize, a person who is not an MP but with the same surname as the former minister was the person liaising with 4 Way Maintenance and the person who was charged with making the payments in respect of invoices.

“In this regard, the committee concluded that Hon Dr Z Mkhize did not breach the code. In the light of the above, the complaint file in this matter is accordingly closed,” it said.

Gwarube laid a complaint against Mkhize for his role in the awarding of a multimillion-rand contract to Digital Vibes in June last year.

At the time, she cited media reports as having indicated that Mkhize had personally signed off on the submission that contained the contract to the company which was run and owned by his close associates.

She charged that Mkhize’s alleged conduct may be in contravention section 5.2.2 of the code which states that a member may “not use his or her influence as a public representative in his or her dealings with an organ of state in such a manner as to improperly advantage the direct personal or private financial or business interests of such member or any immediate family of that member or any business partner of that member or the immediate family of that member”.

“In addition, section 5.2.7 states that a member may “not lobby for any remuneration or receive any reward, benefit or gift for that member or for the immediate family of that member or the business partner of that member or immediate family of that member, for making such representation as a member on behalf of any person or body.”

Meanwhile, Gwarube responded to parliament's findings. 

"It is deeply disappointing that the ethics committee would arrive at the conclusion that the alleged funnelling of money to the former health minister’s son isn’t a violation of the ethics code," Gwarube said. 

"The application of sections of the code were applied so narrowly that it excludes the minister’s son as an unduly beneficiary on the basis that he’s an adult and not dependent on Dr Mkhize financially. This finding is seemingly at odds with the spirit of the code and provisions of it by this narrow application," she added. 

"Dr Mkhize remains an MP and so we will monitor closely the outcomes of the Hawks investigation and take steps flowing from that."

The ethics committee’s decision comes a day before the SIU’s special tribunal hands down judgment in the Digital Vibes matter.

TimesLIVE


Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.