Kodwa claims corruption case is meant to ‘eliminate and humiliate’ him

Former Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, has said the corruption case was intended to “eliminate and publicly humiliate” him.

The case against the duo was opened by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Kodwa and his accused EOH Group senior executive Jehan Mackay made their final appearance at the Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge on Friday; where the state announced the Director of Public Prosecutions’ decision to withdraw corruption charges against the duo.

State prosecutor Neville Mogagabe said the decision to drop the charges was made by National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Solicitor Andrew Chauke.

Watch Zizi Kodwa talk about dropping corruption charges

“No one is above everything.”

“I had to go through the process of being arrested and placed in court cells. But I was relieved that the charges against me were withdrawn.”

– Zizi Kodwa. pic.twitter.com/KCk78uigrI

— Monwabisi Kete (@MonwabisiKete) November 1, 2024

Emotional Kodwa

An emotional Kodwa told 702This situation deeply affected him and his family.

“From day one we said, ‘We are ready for this case.’ You can imagine what this case did. If you look at the timing of when everything happened and started, there were two main goals – I’ll call it ‘elimination’.

“The other purpose was to publicly humiliate and you can imagine what that did to me, my family and everyone close to me,” Kodwa said.

ALSO READ: Corruption charges against Zizi Kodwa withdrawn (VIDEO)

‘Stay strong’

Kodwa added that the alleged crime occurred in 2015, when he was not a minister, was not in the government, did not have any influence at the time and was only a spokesman.

“The tender they mentioned was canceled due to compliance, not influence. Internally it didn’t fit. So there was no common cause or purpose that tied me to anything.”

‘The 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 will say they need to stay strong. The good thing about this process is that it can actually clear them up and come to the same conclusion. As painful as it is, this is a necessary process because I don’t think we should expect exclusive (treatment).

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

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

Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 charges Corruption and a money laundering charge for accepting more than R2 million in bribes from a South African National Defense Force (SANDF) contractor during his time as defense minister.

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

ANC response

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the party noted that the charges against Kodwa had been withdrawn.

“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 “maintain my responsibility in the ANC”, Bhengu-Motsiri said Kodwa’s matter would have to be reviewed by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

expenses

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the decision to drop the prosecution was “based on grounds supported by the successful submissions made by the defendant to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and comprehensively considered together with the evidentiary material”. “The reports of the prosecutor and the Regional Head of the Commercial Crimes Specialized Unit in the case file and the consultations with the investigating officer”.

Kodwa and Mackay were facing corruption charges under the Prevention and Combating Corrupt Practices Act (Precca) and the Prevention of Organized Crime Act.

Mackay allegedly paid Rs1.6 million in bribes to Kodwa in the form of cash, luxury accommodation and other gratifications between April 2015 and February 2018.

This was allegedly in exchange for a R360 million IT software tender.

ALSO READ: Zizi Kodwa and Jehan Mackay to force court to drop charges