The Digital Vibes scandal exposed how a senior Cabinet minister exploited a health crisis for personal enrichment. In 2019-2020, the National Department of Health awarded a communications contract to Digital Vibes (Pty) Ltd for two components: an NHI communications campaign to build public support for the National Health Insurance Bill, and a COVID-19 public awareness campaign. The contract totalled approximately R150 million.
Digital Vibes was controlled by Tahera Mather, Mkhize's former personal assistant and long-time associate, and Naadhira Mitha, a close family friend. The company had no significant prior communications track record commensurate with a R150 million government contract. The SIU investigation, conducted under Presidential Proclamation R23 of 2020 (which authorised investigation of COVID-19-related procurement), found that:
THE CONTRACT WAS RIGGED. Specifications were tailored to ensure Digital Vibes would win the bid. Department officials, including then-Director-General Dr Sandile Buthelezi, facilitated the irregular award. The procurement process was manipulated at multiple levels to produce the predetermined outcome.
MASSIVE OVERCHARGING AND SUBCONTRACTING. Digital Vibes subcontracted significant portions of the actual work to other companies, retaining substantial mark-ups. Approximately R82 million was paid to Digital Vibes before the contract was frozen. The work that was delivered was grossly overpriced relative to market rates for equivalent communications services.
PERSONAL BENEFIT TO THE MINISTER. Funds from the contract were used for Mkhize's direct personal benefit. This included renovations and maintenance at his Bryanston residence, payments to his son Dedani Mkhize, and other personal expenditure. Mather and Mitha acted as conduits, channelling contract proceeds to benefit Mkhize and his family.
The scandal was first exposed by Daily Maverick's investigative journalism unit Scorpio on 12 May 2021. The timing was devastating — South Africa was in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, and public trust in the health ministry was critical. Mkhize was placed on "special leave" by President Ramaphosa in June 2021 and formally departed Cabinet in August 2021, replaced by Dr Joe Phaahla as Health Minister. The SIU presented its findings to the President in October 2021, and the matter was referred to the NPA's Investigating Directorate for criminal prosecution. Charges were enrolled against Mkhize, Mather, and Mitha.
The Digital Vibes scandal is particularly significant because it demonstrated that COVID-19 corruption was not limited to PPE procurement — it extended to communications contracts justified by the pandemic. It also showed that a senior minister in the Ramaphosa Cabinet was willing to exploit a national health emergency for personal enrichment, undermining the narrative that corruption was a Zuma-era problem that the new administration was resolving.