By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Esa Alexander.
ANC NEC member Zizi Kodwa has welcomed the ANC’s integrity commission’s reports that cleared him of any wrongdoing after his name came up at the State Capture Commission.
Last year, the commission heard how Kodwa received questionable payments from technology group EOH Holdings amounting to R375,000.
Kodwa said he told the party’s integrity commission that the “suspicious payments” he had received from EOH executive Jehan Mackay during his time as ANC national spokesperson were a matter of financial assistance between friends.
The payments to Kodwa were revealed as part of startling “money flows” evidence before the state capture commission of inquiry late in November.
Kodwa said he decided to approach the ANC’s integrity commission, chaired by party veteran George Mashamba, after his failed attempts to appear before the state capture commission to outline his version of events.
“I explained in detail the payments which were done in 2015 and the context; that the payments were done as assistance by friends and they were not related to kickbacks or bribes because when I met the people they were already awarded the tenders that are under investigation. So I would not have influenced in any way the tenders,” Kodwa said.
The deputy minister of state security said he sought an audience with the integrity commission of his own accord.
“I felt it appropriate in the context of that resolution that I should go and I appeared, because I have no other recourse, “Kodwa said. “I can’t go to the state capture commission because the commission is not investigating me. I’m not implicated in any tender fraud or anything, so I felt I must appear before the IC [integrity commission]. I’m happy that they agreed to my request this past weekend. I met them and I gave the similar explanation.”
Kodwa said the integrity commission lauded him for proactively approaching them.
“The meeting was cordial, the IC really appreciated that I could, without being implicated, without being accused, that I could voluntarily come before them. And they actually indicated if we could have more of the ANC senior leaders who could do the same whenever they are mentioned, whenever their names are accused.
It does not say you are guilty of anything but the IC is about the integrity and the credibility of the movement, “Kodwa said.
The report has now been referred to the ANC’s NEC for consideration.