SIU probes UKZN over vaccine strategy

THE University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is among key institutions under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) over alleged irregularities in South Africa’s Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing Strategy (VIMS), following a presidential proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The sweeping probe targets the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), its entity the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), UKZN and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and centres on allegations of serious maladministration, improper conduct and potential violations of procurement laws linked to critical vaccine research and manufacturing projects.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande has welcomed the SIU’s intervention into concerns surrounding how the country’s vaccine strategy was developed and funded during the height of the Covid-19 era.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the unit has been mandated to investigate the procurement and contracting processes linked to four specific project funding agreements for vaccine research and development entered into by, or on behalf of, the implicated institutions, including UKZN.

“These include contracts for the development of a National Vaccine Manufacturing Strategy, the finalisation of an overarching vaccine development and manufacturing strategy, as well as projects linked to a Virus-Like Particles (VLP) platform,” Kganyago said.

At the heart of the probe is whether these contracts and payments were conducted in a manner that was fair, competitive, transparent, equitable and cost-effective. The SIU will also assess compliance with National Treasury regulations, legislation, guidelines and the internal policies of the institutions involved.

The investigation will further scrutinise any irregular, unlawful or improper conduct by officials, employees, suppliers, service providers or any other individuals or entities linked to the projects.

The proclamation covers alleged conduct dating from January 1, 2021 to December 19, 2025.

Senior UKZN-linked researchers have distanced their units from the investigation.

Approached for comment, Professor Tulio de Oliveira said the probe does not involve the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), UKZN’s internationally recognised health sciences research centre.

“We have not been involved in the vaccine research and manufacturing projects, and I have no knowledge about this investigation. I have not been contacted about it,” de Oliveira said.

Similarly, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), said his organisation has no vaccine-related projects with the institutions named in the proclamation.

“I was not aware of a project to make VLP vaccines, and this is not an area in which we are conducting research,” Abdool Karim said.

UKZN referred questions related to the SIU investigation to the DSTI.

In a statement, the DSTI confirmed it was fully aware of the issues outlined in the SIU proclamation and revealed it had already initiated an internal process to examine the alleged irregularities.

“Over the past several months, under the leadership of the Director-General, the Department has been involved in an internal process to proactively establish the veracity of these allegations and, where relevant, address them. This process is ongoing,” read the statement.

DSTI said it remains committed to clean and ethical governance and has pledged full cooperation with the SIU, while reaffirming its goal of building sustainable and sovereign vaccine manufacturing capacity for South Africa.

However, Veli Mbele, spokesperson for the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said the department and its affected entities would not comment further, citing respect for the integrity of the SIU process.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE