Zizi Kodwa released on R30 000 bail in R1.6m corruption case

Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa and his co-accused will return to court in July after being granted bail in his corruption case.

Kodwa, alongside his “close friend” and former EOH Holdings senior executive Jehan Mackay, appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court following their arrest on Wednesday.

The suspects were granted bail of R30 000 each by Magistrate Sheron Soko-Rantao.

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Soko-Rantao found that the release was in the interest of justice.

“The accused standing before me are figures that are known to the public and that state on their own that they are not flight risks.

“On that strength, the accused managed to prove on a balance of probabilities that the candidates for bail and bail are granted,” the presiding officer ruled.

The case was postponed to 23 July for consultation and pre-trial preparations.

Kodwa will not evade trial

Earlier, Kodwa’s legal representative, Advocate Zola Majavu told his client was aware of the nature and gravity of the charges against him.

The minister, in his affidavit, argued for his release on bail, saying he resided in South Africa with his family – his wife Zama Kodwa and two children.

He stated that he cooperated with the Hawks and did not evade trial.

“I intend pleading not guilty and I’m determined to attend court on all these dates as directed by the court to do so,” Kodwa’s affidavit reads.

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Kodwa, who has a personal and official passport, stressed that he was not a flight risk and was willing to pay R25 000 bail.

“My constitutional rights cannot be sacrificed at the altar of publications and other statements by my political detractors over which I have no control.”

Majavu also pointed out that Kodwa’s official passport belonged to the government.

“He might not even be a minister beyond these proceedings and therefore, by operation of law that particular passport must go back to the state and be destroyed.”

Watch the proceedings below:

Additionally, Majavu asked the court to take judicial notice that his rights were violated because his imminent arrest and charges were publicised in the media.

“The fact he is a minister does not denude him of his rights and does not entitle the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] or anyone for that matter to violate his rights in a manner that has happened.”

The lawyer further argued that Kodwa believed the state’s case was weak.

But Mogagabe, in his response to Majavu’s assertion, told the court that there was no need to deal with the case’s merits at this stage.

Kodwa bribes

Kodwa and Mackay were arrested as a result of the recommendations stemming from the Commission of Inquiry into the Allegations of State Capture report.

Investigations revealed that between April 2015 to February 2018, Mackay paid bribes to Kodwa amounting to R1.6 million, used to buy a “luxury” SUV and for “luxury” accommodation.

The gratifications were for Kodwa’s intervention in government procurement processes to advance the interests of Mackay, EOH and Tactical Software Systems (TSS), which allegedly resulted in an R360 million tender being cancelled.

The minister previously told the State Capture Commission, which was chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, that he received a R1 million loan from Mackay – whom he met in 2013 and became friends with – and used R890 000 to buy a Jeep vehicle for himself.

At the time, Kodwa conceded that payments were indeed made into his account by Mackay when he was facing financial difficulties.

He denied that the payments were in exchange for political gains for the African National Congress (ANC) or to influence any tenders.

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