The corruption case against former Sports, Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa and his co-accused Jehan Mackay was on Tuesday postponed to August 21.
Kodwa appeared briefly in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge alongside his co-accused on charges of over R1.7 million corruption.
Kodwa is facing charges in connection with allegations that he received about R1.7m in bribes.
Speaking following the postponement of the matter, spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Phindi Mjonondwane said the NPA has been ready to proceed with the matter and is confident of its case against the two accused.
“The NPA is ready to proceed with the matter and has been ready for a long time now. We are in the position to disclose the contents of the docket. The accused are within their rights to exercise all the recourse mechanisms. You may also recall the lawyer for accused number one indicated in court that they will also use the time provided by the court to also to decide whether or not they will be bringing representation.
“We are hoping as the NPA that we will be in the position to deal with all those interlocutory applications before the trial stage. But as the NPA, we are ready to proceed with the trial,” she said.
In May, Kodwa and Mackay were released on R30 000 bail each after they appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge, Johannesburg.
Following his release on bail, Kodwa sent his resignation letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa indicating that he was stepping aside from his duties as minister.
Ramaphosa subsequently appointed Maropene Ramakgopa as his replacement before appointing Gayton McKenzie as the new minister of Sports, Arts and Culture following the May 29 elections.
Kodwa was three weeks ago sworn-in as an MP in spite of protestations from opposition political parties who objected to his swearing-in just weeks after appearing before the Palm Ridge Special commercials crimes court for the matter.
Last month, the ANC defended the decision to deploy criminally-charged Kodwa to Parliament.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri confirmed to IOL that Kodwa will be sworn in by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza.
“If the court rules in his favour, he will be eligible to take the ministerial positions again but if the court rules otherwise, then he will have to step aside completely,” she had said.
The Star