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South African Health Minister Put on Leave in Corruption Scandal

© AP Photo / Denis FarrellSouth Africa's Health Minister Zweli Mkhize speaks at a news conference in Johannesburg, Sunday, March 1, 2020.
South Africa's Health Minister Zweli Mkhize speaks at a news conference in Johannesburg, Sunday, March 1, 2020. - Sputnik International, 1920, 08.06.2021
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday decided to put Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on special leave amid accusations of corruption concerning COVID-19-related contracts.

"President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Tuesday, 08 June 2021 placed Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize on special leave," the president's office said in a statement.

According to the statement, during this period the minister will assist with the investigations into the placement of government contracts with a service provider, Digital Vibes.

The health ministry previously awarded a contract worth 150 million South African rand ($11 million) to the communications firm Digital Vibes, allegedly headed by Mkhize's close acquaintance. News24 portal revealed that the company bought a car for the minister's son and paid for the renovations in the house owned by the Mkhize family.

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Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane was appointed an interim health minister.

South Africa's Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has launched a probe into the case, which is the latest among over 4,000 similar cases of suspicious placement of coronavirus-linked contracts since the start of the pandemic. As of June, a total of 63 government officials have been handed over for prosecution and 87 companies are on the way to being blacklisted over COVID-19-related corruption charges.

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