Former Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has resigned as a member of Parliament (MP).
The embattled Kodwa was sworn in as an MP alongside uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party membersin June just days after he tendered his resignation as DSAC minister.
ZIZI KODWA RESIGNS AS MP
On Thursday, the African National Congress (ANC) confirmed that its secretary-general Fikile Mbalula received Kodwa’s resignation letter which is dated 24 July.
“The ANC has accepted the letter and wishes Zizi well,” acting national spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi said.
Earlier this week, Kodwa and his co-accused, businessman Jehan Mackay appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Crime Court in Johannesburg. The two were arrested by the Hawks on 5 June and charged with corruption. They also appeared in court on the same day and were later released on R30 000 bail each.
The two face charges of Contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, emanating from the period between April 2015 to February 2016, when Kodwa was ANC national spokesperson.
The matter was postponed to 21 August.
ANC STEP-ASIDE RULE
The ANC was heavily criticised after Kodwa was sworn in as an MP despite the corruption charges.
The party said the step-aside rule will come into effect after his case has concluded.
The step-aside rule was adopted at the party’s national conference in 2017 where criminally-charged leaders must voluntarily step aside and those that alleged, reported and accused of corruption face the integrity committee.
The Congress of the South African Trade Union (Cosatu) said it was deeply disappointed that its ally, the ANC chose to recklessly ignore its own step aside resolution.
“This is a poorly thought through and ill-considered decision by the ANC that undermines its progressive step aside resolution for public representatives. 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.
It defies logic as a mere few weeks ago then Minister Kodwa resigned from office upon being charged and appearing before court on allegations of corruption,” Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks said after Kodwa was worn in.
EQUAL EDUCATION CHALLENGES FORMER MINISTER’S APPOINTMENT
Earlier this month, Lobby group Equal Education confirmed that it wrote to ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli to oppose the nomination of corruption-accused Zizi Kodwa to the Basic Education portfolio committee in Parliament.
The organisation said the portfolio committee on Basic Education exercises fundamental functions of the Department of Basic Education (DBE). Given its significant responsibilities in scrutinising the DBE’s strategic plan and overseeing the appropriate spending of the department’s budget, it is incomprehensible that an individual currently out on bail for corruption charges has been entrusted with this role.
“It would be an indictment on the ANC to overlook the significant scandal that has marred Kodwa’s career. He currently faces serious corruption charges relating to allegations that he received more than R1.7 million in bribes linked to influencing the awarding of government contracts. These charges raise grave concerns about his suitability for this role in the national legislature. The importance of ethical governance and the highest levels of integrity cannot be overstated for a role that demands such commitment, as outlined in Parliament’s Code of Ethical Conduct.
“In addition, the ANC’s step-aside resolution, which was intended to address issues of corruption and maintain the integrity of the party, is not achieving its main objective,” Equal Education spokesperson Sesethu August said.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ZIZI KODWA’S RESIGNATION?
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