Kodwa claims the corruption case was aimed at 'eliminating and humiliating' him

An emotional Kodwa said he plans to ‘pick up the pieces and rebuild his life’

Former Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa said his corruption case was aimed at “eliminating and publicly humiliating” him.

The case was filed against the two by the National Prosecution Authority (NPA).

Kodwa and his co-accused Jehan Mackay, a senior executive of the EOH Group, made their final appearance before the Commercial Crime Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Friday, where the state announced the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions to dismiss the corruption charges against the duo to move in.

Public Prosecutor Neville Mogagabe said the decision to drop the charges was made by Andrew Chauke, lawyer for the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).

Watch Zizi Kodwa speak about the dropped corruption charges

“No one is above everything.”

“I had to go through the process of being arrested and placed in a court cell. However, I am relieved that the charges against me have been dropped.”

– Zizi Kodwa. pic.twitter.com/KCk78uigrI

— Monwabisi Kete (@MonwabisiKete) November 1, 2024

Emotional Kodwa

An emotional Kodwa told it 702the case deeply affected him and his family.

“From day one we said: ‘We are ready for this trial’. You can imagine what this case has done. There were two main objectives – the ones I’ll call ‘elimination’ – if you look at the timing of when everything happened and started.

“The other goal was public humiliation and you can imagine what this did to me, the family and everyone close to me,” Kodwa said.

‘Stay strong’

Kodwa added that the alleged crime took place in 2015 when he was not a minister, not in government and had no influence at the time and was only a spokesperson.

“The same tender they are talking about was canceled not because of influence, but because of compliance. Internally it was not satisfactory. So there was no common cause or purpose that connected me to anything.”

‘ANC should not be treated differently’

Kodwa advised other members of the African National Congress (ANC), such as his successor Pule Mabe and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to remain “strong”.

‘I tell them to stay strong. The good thing about this process is that it can actually clarify them and come to the same conclusion. As painful as it is, it is a necessary process because I don’t think we should expect preferential treatment.

“No one is above the law. We should not give the impression that because we are members of the ANC, we should be treated differently,” Kodwa said.

Mabe, his wife Mmatlhekelo Elsie Mabe, and business partner Tinyiko Mahuntsi are accused of corruption, fraud and theft in connection with a R27-million tender awarded to Mabe’s company Enviro-Mobi by the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department in 2017.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 charges of corruption and one count of money laundering for receiving more than R2 million in bribes from a South African National Defense Force (SANDF) contractor during her tenure as Defense Minister.

Kodwa said being involved in a case of this nature left him in a “lonely place” and that the support of family and close friends means everything.

ANC response

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the party had taken note of the withdrawal of charges against Kodwa.

“This outcome reaffirms our commitment to justice and the rule of law, principles that underpin the ANC’s approach to both leadership and governance.”

While Kodwa said his immediate task was to “resume my responsibility within the ANC”, Bhengu-Motsiri said Kodwa’s case will have to be reviewed by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Costs

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the decision to drop the prosecution was “based on grounds advocated by the successful representations made by the suspect to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions , which were extensively considered alongside the evidence. included in the case list, the reports of the public prosecutor and the regional head of the specialized commercial crime unit and consultation with the investigating officer.”

Kodwa and Mackay faced charges of corruption under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activity Act (Precca) and the Prevention of Organized Crime Act.

It is alleged that Mackay paid bribes to Kodwa amounting to R1.6 million between April 2015 and February 2018, in the form of cash, luxury accommodation and other rewards.

This is said to have happened in return for a R360 million IT software tender.