Zizi Kodwa set to return to Parliament as state drops corruption charges?
Following his corruption charges, Zizi Kodwa stepped down as the minister of sports, arts, and culture. Is he poised to make a return to Parliament now?
Advocate Andrew Chauke, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Gauteng, has dropped the corruption charges against former sports, arts, and culture minister Zizi Kodwa and businessman Jehan Mackay, which were filed under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA).
In June, Kodwa and Mackay were charged with corruption as the former minister and member of Parliament allegedly received R1.6 million in kickbacks from Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings (EOH) as the IT and software company scored tenders from various government departments.
STATE WITHDRAWS CHARGES AGAINST ZIZI KODWA AND JEHAN MACKAY
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the decision to abandon the prosecution is premised on grounds militated by the successful representations that were lodged by the accused with the office of the DPP, which were comprehensively considered alongside the evidential material contained in the case docket, the reports from the prosecutor and the Regional Head of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit and consultation with the investigating officer.
Mjonondwane said part 6 of the NPA’s Prosecution policy directives makes provision for the process of representations where an accused person may request the review of a decision to institute a prosecution as an available remedy of recourse, wherein the accused is granted an opportunity to tender their version of events.
“Their version of events is weighed against the interest of justice, coupled with the abovementioned factors.
“The DPP was duty bound to consider that the prospects of a successful prosecution had diminished, owing to the change in circumstances, brought about by new developments that came to light, despite an initial decision to institute a prosecution,” she explained.
WILL THE FORMER MINISTER RETURN TO PARLIAMENT?
In July, Kodwa resigned as a member of Parliament (MP) just days after being sworn in alongside uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party members.
The ANC was heavily criticised after Kodwa was sworn in as an MP despite the corruption charges.
The party said the step-aside rule will come into effect after his case has concluded.
The step-aside rule was adopted at the party’s national conference in 2017 where criminally-charged leaders must voluntarily step aside and those that alleged, reported and accused of corruption face the integrity committee.