Former health minister Zweli Mkhize quit his job in August over the Digital Vibes scandal. File picture: African News Agency (ANA)
LOBBY group AfriForum welcomed the publication of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)’s report on the Digital Vibes corruption scandal on Wednesday, but decried the fact that a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application had to be brought before the report was made public.
The head of community development at AfriForum, Johan Kruger, said there was a considerable dragging of feet before the report was released.
“AfriForum submitted an application for access to information to obtain the report. However, the state deliberately dragged its feet before the report was finally sent to us by the Presidency today.
“It is unacceptable that these types of applications must first be launched before the public can access information to which they are actually entitled,” said Kruger.
Kruger added that the corruption exposed in the report is a clear confirmation that AfriForum’s tax protest campaign “is needed more than ever”.
“The waste of tax money by corrupt public servants has become part of life in South Africa, we simply can no longer accept this. Tax protest action is therefore justified and AfriForum will intensify its campaign,” said Kruger.
The Digital Vibes report issued by the SIU has called for former acting health director-general Anban Pillay to be charged.
The report, which has been under wraps since it was completed by the SIU a few months ago, was released by the Presidency on Wednesday.
It has made damning findings against those behind the Digital Vibes scandal. The contract was given to close associates of former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Mkhize quit his job in August before Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle.