By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has confirmed the resignation of Zizi Kodwa as the party’s Member of Parliament with a immediate effect.
In a short statement, the party said, “The Secretary-General of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, has received a letter from Zizi Kodwa formally communicating his resignation as a Member of Parliament.”
“The letter is dated 24 July 2024 and the resignation is with immediate effect. The African National Congress has accepted the letter, and wishes comrade Zizi well,” the party’s statement reads.
Kodwa resigned after he appeared in the Johannesburg specialised commercial crimes court in Palm Ridge on corruption charges on Tuesday, 23 July.
The case emanates from the state capture inquiry, which heard testimony that Kodwa was allegedly paid kickbacks by his co-accused, businessman Jehan Mackay.
Kodwa’s comeback sparked debate with many people questioning the ANC’s commitment to the step-aside rule. He initially resigned as the Minister of Spaort, Arts and Culture.
“Cosatu is deeply disappointed that our ally, the ANC, has chosen to recklessly ignore its own step-aside resolution with the swearing in of comrade Zizi Kodwa as an MP,” said Cosatu parliamentary co-ordinator Matthew Parks.
“This is a poorly thought-through and ill-considered decision by the ANC. It sends a painfully worrying question to society on whether the ANC is committed to holding its public representatives accountable and its bold and necessary renewal campaign.”
Parks believed Kodwa’s appointment defied the ANC’s step-aside rule.
Despite being charged, Kodwa was allowed to take up his position as party MP, but not to take on leadership roles, in terms of the party’s step-aside rule, which was adopted at its 2017 national conference.
The party’s veterans’ league also questioned Kodwa’s presence in parliament and the ANC secretary general then wrote a letter to the formation clarifying the conditions under which he had taken up his seat.
Kodwa and his co-accused corruption case has been postponed to 21 August 2024.
But, after the pre-trial hearing earlier this week, at which lawyer Zola Majavu requested further details of the charges against his client from the prosecution, Kodwa submitted his resignation.
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 Ramaphosa, campaigning for him to become ANC president in 2017 and again in 2022.