Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has been arrested following allegations of corruption involving R1.7 million.
The former deputy minister in the Presidency responsible for State Security was implicated in the State Capture Commission, which Chief Justice Raymond Zondo chaired.
Minister Zizi Kodwa Arrested
News24 reported that police took Kodwa into custody on Wednesday morning, ahead of his scheduled court appearance. The arrest comes amid charges that he accepted bribes totalling approximately R1.7 million from businessman and former EOH boss Jehan Mackay. Mackay will also appear in the same court.
In 2020, the Zondo-led commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture heard that Kodwa allegedly received money in eight payments from Mackay, a former executive of South Africa’s largest technology group, EOH Holdings. ENS Forensics managing director Steven Powell testified that Mackay made these payments to Kodwa.
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How The Zondo Commission Was Wary Of Ramaphosa’s Ally
When the Zondo report was released in April 2022, it strongly recommended that President Cyril Ramaphosa reconsider Kodwa’s position as deputy minister in the Presidency responsible for State Security.
“The commission accordingly recommends that the president considers the position of Mr. Kodwa as deputy minister of state security. Having regard to the fact that Mr Kodwa appears to find himself in a position where he is beholden by Mr Jehan Mackay. Mr Kodwa is beholden by Mr Jehan Mackay, to whom he owes more than R1.7m. On his own version. This is a debt which he cannot immediately repay.”
Despite these recommendations, Ramaphosa announced in March 2023r that he was appointing Kodwa as South Africa’s minister of sports, arts, and culture.
Earlier this week, The Star newspaper reported that many believe Kodwa, a close ally of Ramaphosa, was shielded from the ANC’s “step aside” rule, which requires members charged with corruption or other serious crimes to voluntarily step aside from participation in party and government activities or face suspension. The policy was adopted in 2017 at the party’s 54th national conference.