Minister Mkhize must step aside; tax revolt imminent

25 May 2021  

The civil rights organisation AfriForum submitted a complaint today to the Public Protector and requested Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health, to step aside. The organisation wants Mkhize to step aside until the Special Investigating Unit has finalised its investigation into his knowledge of alleged corruption and looting of public funds by respectively his former personal assistant and media spokesperson. 

According to Johan Kruger, Head of Community Development at AfriForum, the ANC must start actively to eradicate the corruption pandemic in its own ranks. “The ANC should have Dr Zweli Mkhize step aside pending the outcome of the investigation against him. Anything less would be tantamount to a betrayal of the communities who suffer under the COVID pandemic,” Kruger says.

“Taxpayers are at breaking point yet are confronted daily with reports of new looting sprees by ANC officials. The ANC government clearly does not realise what levels of frustration exist among taxpayers. AfriForum is inundated by perplexed communities who are actively investigating tax revolts,” Kruger explains.

According to Kruger, these serious allegations of corruption do not bode well for the National Health Insurance (NHI) that the ANC wants to implement by hook or by crook. “The looting of resources at the first opportunity during a pandemic does indeed predict what can be expected when resources are managed centrally if and when NHI becomes a reality.” 

Issued by Andrea van Wyk, Media Relations Officer, AfriForum, 25 May 2021