By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The case against former sports arts and culture minister Zizi Kodwa and his co-accused has been postponed to the 3rd of October 2024.
Kodwa and his co-accused Jehan Mackay appeared briefly at the Palmridge Commercial Crimes Court.
The case was postponed to today for a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to Mackay’s representations.
Kodwa’ counsel, Advocate Zola Majavu, threatened to apply for a separation of trial so that his client’s case continues instead of being delayed by Mackay making representations to the Director of Public prosecutions to have charges against him dropped.
Majavu told the court the delay in this case has had adverse impact on his client’s life.
“The truth of the matter is that with every single day that passes, real or perceived with reference to my client is significant. He plays in a political position and wherever he goes he is viewed as someone who has stolen money,” Majavu told the court.
Majavu emphasised that they are ready to proceed and want their day in court. “I hope your worship that this is the last time we deal with things that have nothing to do with him. Metaphorically, they are joined by the hip unfortunately but I just want the record to reflect that we were ready three moons ago, we are ready today and we’ll be ready on 3 October.”
“He said if on the 3 October there is no progress, no one should be surprised by what their intentions are. “It’s nothing personal but those are my instructions and I stand fully behind them,” concluded Majavu.
Kodwa was arrested, along with Mackay, in June and is out on bail of R30 000 over bribes totalling R1.6 million that he allegedly received in the form of cash, luxury accommodation and other gratifications.
The payments were made to Kodwa when he was national spokesperson of the ANC and were allegedly aimed at influencing a state information technology contract in favour of an EOH entity.
Kodwa is a former spokesperson of the ANC Youth League, which played a key role in the campaign to elect Jacob Zuma as president in 2007, and was appointed as party spokesperson — and that of the president.
He later became an ally of the current African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa, campaigning for him to become the president in 2017 and again in 2022.