Amid coalition government talks following an election deadlock, South Africa’s outgoing sports, arts, and culture minister has made a court appearance after being arrested on bribery charges. Zizi Kodwa, a member of the African National Congress (ANC), was formally charged with bribery and appeared in a Johannesburg courtroom alongside co-accused Jehan Mackay.
During the hearing, Kodwa was granted bail by the country’s elite police unit Hawks. His lawyer stated that Kodwa would not evade trial and would present his defense at a later stage, as shown in footage by public broadcaster SABC.
Reports from News24 indicated that Kodwa was arrested for allegedly accepting 1.6 million rand ($85,000) in bribes related to contracts for upgrading and maintaining Johannesburg’s metro software systems. Kodwa plans to plead not guilty to the charges.
Previously implicated in bribery allegations during a 2021 judicial inquiry into government corruption, Kodwa served as the national spokesperson for the ANC and later as the deputy minister of state security.
Police claim that Kodwa used part of the bribe money to purchase a “luxury” SUV vehicle.
Coalition talks
As the ANC grapples with forming a government after losing its 30-year majority in the recent election, the 54-year-old Kodwa, a member of the ANC’s National Working Committee, participated in discussions on potential coalition partnerships. The ANC has not disclosed which parties it is considering for collaboration, and negotiations are ongoing.
Government corruption played a significant role in the election outcome, with many South Africans turning away from the ANC. Securing only 40 percent of the vote, the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time and must now seek a coalition or agreement with other parties.
Link from www.aljazeera.com