Zizi Kodwa, former sports minister, with businessman Jehan Mackay in court. (Photo: Screengrab/SAUC)
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that charges of corruption and bribery have again been brought against former minister Zizi Kodwa. At the same time, the NPA denies allegations that information about the decision was leaked.
Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson for the NPA, says the decision was already taken on 29 January when the former national director of public prosecutions set aside the previous decision to drop the case.
The case relates to allegations that in 2016 Kodwa received approximately R1.6 million in bribes in connection with contracts for the upgrade and maintenance of Johannesburg’s software systems.
The charges were initially withdrawn in November 2024 after the provincial director of public prosecutions in Gauteng indicated that the chance of a successful prosecution had decreased.
Kganyago says the NPA notes with concern reports that the decision to re-instate the charges was apparently leaked and that Kodwa and his co-accused, Jehan Mackay’s legal teams were not informed.
“These allegations are untrue. The lawyers concerned were already notified in writing in January of the decision to continue the prosecution. The information was not leaked and any allegations about it are devoid of all truth.”
He adds that the NPA handles all matters with due respect and within the prescriptions of the law, and that no leaks will be tolerated.
ANC member Zizi Kodwa. (Archive photo: GCIS)
Maroela Media earlier reported that Kodwa was arrested in 2024 during his tenure as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, after the Zondo Commission made recommendations on corruption during the Zuma era.
The commission found that state institutions were widely looted and mismanaged between 2009 and 2018, with the economic cost of this estimated at around R500 billion at the time.
The reinstatement of the case also follows shortly after a senior ANC member of parliament, Vincent Smith, was sentenced to prison for corruption stemming from the same commission.