The South African Ministry of Health released a statement to clarify that the Minister of Health, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, does not own a PPE manufacturing company nor is he or his family involved in any way in the manufacturing, selling, or distribution of PPE. The statement was in response to fake news circulating on social media claiming that Dr Mkhize owns a PPE company. Creating or spreading fake news during a national disaster is illegal and the Ministry will take action against those found to be perpetuating misinformation.

1. THE MINISTER OF HEALTH DOES NOT OWN A PPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
The Ministry of Health has become aware of a message that has appeared on several social
media platforms, claiming that the Minister of Health, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, owns a PPE
manufacturing company. This message has appeared on various people’s Twitter, Facebook
and WhatsApp threads.
We would like to categorically state that Minister Mkhize does not own a PPE
manufacturing company nor is he involved in any way in the manufacturing of PPE. In
anticipation of any further emergence of fake news, we also categorically state that nobody
in Minister Mkhize’s family is in the business of manufacturing, selling or distribution of PPE.
We hope that this clarifies the matter and that all individuals that are either the originators
of this content or those who have advanced the content by sharing or commenting will take
the opportunity to immediately remove the content from their platforms and issue an
apology to the Minister and to the public for advancing fake news.
Creating or advancing fake news remains an offense under the National State of Disaster
and the Department of Health will not hesitate to take action against those found to be
creating or perpetuating fake news. This kind of content is damaging to the reputation of
honest, hard working members of the executive. It distracts away from and undermines the
important work of fighting the Coronavirus.
We implore members of the public to be circumspect in their engagement with social media
content and not find themselves becoming agents of fake news and misinformation. We are
still in the midst of a pandemic and the best way to fight it is by arming ourselves with facts
and sound knowledge that empowers us to defeat the Coronavirus.
ENDS...
For Further Queries
Dr Lwazi Manzi
0826788978