SIU granted order to freeze money held in bank and investment accounts linked to Digital Vibes (PTY) LTD or linked to entities/individuals who received payments from Digital Vibes
As part of taking action against those responsible for and implicated in corruption, maladministration and malpractice, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was on 17 June 2021 granted a preservation order / interdict by the Special Tribunal under Case No. KN 03/2021 to freeze the sum of approximately R 22 million held in bank and investment accounts linked to Digital Vibes (Pty) Ltd (Digital Vibes) or linked to entities/individuals who received payments from Digital Vibes, a communication firm at the center of, inter alia, a Covid-19 media campaign contract that was awarded to it by the National Department of Health (Department).
The Special Tribunal Order, inter alia, prohibits Digital Vibes, Tahera Mather, Naadhira Mitha, Suhaila Mather, Suhaila Mather Consulting (Pty) Ltd, Amods Attorneys, WT Graphics and Designs (Pty) Ltd, and Strategeewhiz (Pty) Ltd (the 1st Respondent and the 5th to 11th Respondents) from dealing with the funds held in the relevant bank and investment accounts in any manner.
Based on the information presented by the SIU investigating team and certain information sourced and assisted by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), between 4 and 14 June 2021, after being approached by the SIU with evidence, the FIC issued intervention directions under Section 34 of the FIC Act to place a hold on approximately R 22 million of funds derived from the monies paid to Digital Vibes by the Department for a period of 10 working days. The funds are held in bank and investment accounts owned or controlled by the 1st Respondent and the 5th to 11th Respondents as listed in the Special Tribunal Order. The SIU received excellent cooperation and assistance from the FIC, for which the SIU is grateful.
The SIU approached the Special Tribunal for preservation order / interdict to freeze the accounts following an investigation into allegations of unlawful and/or irregular procurement of Covid-19 communication services by the Department. The SIU will launch review proceedings in the Special Tribunal within the next 30 working days, and also seek an order against Digital Vibes and other relevant entities/individuals to pay back all financial losses suffered by the State as consequence of the appointment of Digital Vibes by the Department.
Though the SIU investigation in the appointment of Digital Vibes is ongoing, the preliminary investigations have revealed clear evidence exposing two highly irregular and unlawful transactions.
The first transaction is a procurement process in 2019 in terms of which Digital Vibes was appointed to perform communications services relating to the National Health Insurance (NHI). The second transaction occurred in 2020 during the tenure of the first transaction when Digital Vibes was ‘appointed’ in respect of a Covid-19 awareness campaign without any competitive bidding or other procurement process at all.
The Covid-19 awareness campaign was merely brought-in as an extension to the contract between the Department and Digital Vibes in respect of the NHI media campaign, in circumstances where such an extension was irregular and unlawful.
Furthermore, the Department utilised the budget allocated for the NHI contract and NHI media campaign to pay for the purported Covid-19 media campaign work allegedly performed by Digital Vibes.
The Department paid a total of approximately R150 million to Digital Vibes, approximately R 25 million of which was paid in respect of the NHI media campaign and approximately R125 million in respect of the Covid-19 appointment.
Despite civil legal outcomes, the SIU investigation into the affairs of the Department is ongoing. In line with the SIU Act, evidence pointing to criminal conduct will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action, and the SIU will refer evidence in support of Disciplinary, Administrative and/or Executive Actions to the relevant Authorities for further action.
Fraud and corruption allegations may be reported via the following platforms: siu@whistleblowing.co.za / Hotline: 0800 037 774
Enquiries:
Mr Kaizer Kganyago
SIU
Tel: 012 843 0048
Cell: 082 306 8888
E-mail: kkganyago@siu.org.za