Johannesburg: Zizi Kodwa, a prominent member of the African National Congress (ANC) and South Africa’s Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister, was arrested and appeared in court on Wednesday on charges of bribery. This development comes as the ANC grapples with forming a government after losing its majority in a recent election.
Kodwa, 54, faces accusations of accepting bribes totaling approximately $90,000, according to the police. He was in court in Johannesburg alongside another individual implicated in the case. Kodwa has stated that he plans to plead not guilty to the charges.
The minister, who also serves on the ANC’s National Working Committee, which recently met to discuss coalition options following the election, was previously linked to bribery allegations during a 2021 judicial inquiry into government corruption. The accusations relate to Kodwa's tenure as the ANC’s national spokesperson and later as deputy minister of state security.
Police allege that Kodwa used some of the illicit funds to purchase a luxury SUV vehicle.
The issue of government corruption was a key factor in the recent election, which saw the ANC lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years, receiving 40 percent of the vote. The party is currently engaged in talks with other political entities to form a coalition government.
Zizi Kodwa, a prominent member of the African National Congress (ANC) and South Africa’s Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister, has been a significant figure in the ANC for many years. He is 54 years old and has served in various leadership roles within the party, including as its national spokesperson and later as deputy minister of state security. Kodwa also sits on the ANC’s influential National Working Committee, where he plays a key role in shaping the party’s policies and strategies. His recent arrest on bribery charges has brought renewed attention to allegations of corruption within the ANC, adding complexity to the party's efforts to form a government after a recent electoral setback.
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