Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has resigned. This comes soon after his appearance at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court in Ekurhuleni where he appeared on charges of corruption.

COURT APPEARANCE  

Kodwa appeared in court with his co-accused businessman and director of Tactical Software Systems (TSS) and former senior executive of Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings (EOH), Jehan Mackay. Kodwa and Mackay are accused of being broiled in a gratification scandal of R1.6 million. 

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RESIGNATION 

In a statement by his spokesperson Litha Mpondwana, Kodwa resigned as a minister with immediate effect. "This comes as Mr Kodwa challenges the charges against him, which he strongly denies. Mr Kodwa has informed the President that he will resign as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture and Member of Cabinet, after being formally charged,' Mpondwana said in the statement.

CHARGES 

Kodwa's charges emanate from the findings of the State Capture Commission, which was chaired by Chief Justice Judge Raymond Zondo, in 2022. According to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, the co-accused faces charges relating to the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act. Mbambo said their investigation revealed that during the period from 28 April 2015 to 2 February 2018, Mackay, on behalf of EOH, enticed Kodwa with a bribe of over R1,7 million for his benefit. "The monies are reported to have been utilised for the purchasing of a luxury SUV and payment of luxury accommodation,' she said. At the time of receiving the payments, Kodwa was an ANC spokesperson and Deputy Minister of State Security. The commission recommended that Ramaphosa considers Kodwa's position as Deputy Minister of State Security and that law enforcement investigate attempts by Mackay to pursue Kodwa to interfere with procurement processes in the interest of EOH. It is alleged that the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) awarded the tender to MacKay's company for five years.

LEARNED ABOUT COURT APPEARANCE 

Yesterday, Kodwa told ZiMoja that he did not know anything about his warrant of arrest or court appearance. This was confirmed by his legal representative Advocate Zola Majavu, who stressed to senior Magistrate Sheron Soko-Rantao that it was unfair on his client that he had to find out through the media that he was appearing in court this morning. "It is worrying that my client and I had to find out through social media and news sites that we are appearing in court today. It becomes a problem when we have to receive a charge sheet on the day our clients are appearing in court," he said. Kodwa and Mackay were granted R30 000 bail each and will be back in the same court on 23 July 2024.