Dr Zweli Mkhize - The African Mirror

Jun

2021

SIU wins R22-million freeze order, goes for more

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER AFTER getting a court order to freeze R22-million from a communication firm controversially linked to suspended South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is gunning for more, including an attempt to get individuals to pay back monies. The Special Tribunal yesterday granted the SIU an order to freeze R22-million in cash and investments that belong to Digital Vibes, a communications company at the heart of a R150-million tender scandal involving the Department of Health and Minister Mkhize. The scandal, which includes Digital Vibes paying for work done on Mkhize’s Johannesburg home, has…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s vaccine compensation fund could cost $17.5 million in first year

COVID-19

THE South African government's compensation fund to cover potential injuries from COVID-19 vaccines could cost around 250 million rands ($17.5 million) in the first year, the health minister said in response to questions in parliament. The African country hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic in terms of infections and deaths told vaccine manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer it would set up the fund during negotiations to buy shots. "A contingent liability of approximately R250 million for the first year would be provided for compensation of vaccine injury in a COVID-19 Vaccine NFC (no-fault compensation) Fund," Health Minister Zweli Mkhize…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa aims to vaccinate 1.1 million

COVID-19

SOUTH Africa aims to vaccinate around 1.1 million people against COVID-19 by the end of March as it ramps up its immunisation programme, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said yesterday. Addressing parliament, Mkhize also said authorities might have to inoculate more than their original target of 40 million people to reach herd immunity. The country, hit far harder by the pandemic than any other in Africa, started rolling out Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) vaccine last week in a research study targeting healthcare workers. It hopes to receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine soon. Mkhize said so far more than 32,000 health…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa aims to vaccinate for herd immunity

COVID-19

TIM COCKS SOUTH Africa will vaccinate 40 million people, or two-thirds of its population, against COVID-19 in order to achieve herd immunity, its health minister has said, as a mutant variant drove daily new cases above 21,000 for the first time. He spoke as the government said it would receive 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca's shot from the Serum Institute of India (SII), spread over January and February. Health workers have voiced concern that authorities have not acted fast enough to secure enough vaccines. A more contagious coronavirus variant, first found on South Africa's east coast late last year, is…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Lots of support for South African Health Minister infected with COVID-19

NEWS, COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THERE has been an outpouring of support for South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who has gone into quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. World Health Organisation Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa have led a torrent of good wishes for Mkhize, who has tested positive together with his wife May. Ghebreyesus wished the Mkhize’s swift and easy recoveries. Ramaphosa also wished the couple a speedy recovery. “The President wishes the Mkhizes a safe and restful recovery and joins the Minister in calling on all South Africans to remain careful…