The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced its intentions to reinstate corruption charges against former ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa.
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
After months of legal uncertainty, former ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa says he has not been formally informed that corruption charges against him have been reinstated by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The NPA announced its intention to reinstate fraud and corruption charges against former Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa.
On Tuesday, Kodwa claimed that he has not yet received communication regarding this decision.
Kodwa is also a former ANC Member of Parliament and served as the party’s national spokesperson.
The charges stem from the Zondo Commission on State Capture, which found that Kodwa allegedly received bribes and luxury perks totalling R1.68 million between 2015 and 2016.
These payments were allegedly made by Jehan Mackay, a former executive at technology company EOH, in exchange for influencing the awarding of government IT contracts.
Kodwa was first arrested in June 2024.
He subsequently resigned as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, and later as a Member of Parliament.
In a surprise move in November 2024, the NPA withdrew all charges against Kodwa and Mackay after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accepted their legal representations, citing “altered circumstances” that made a successful prosecution unlikely at that time.
This was after the retired National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi, exercised her constitutional power to review the decision made by the Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Chauke, who had withdrawn the charges.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NPA’s spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said Kodwa's and Mackay's lawyers were informed by Batohi in a letter dated January 29, 2026.
“The NPA would like to set the record straight that Mr Kodwa and Mr Mackay’s lawyers were informed by the former NDPP in a letter dated the 29th January 2026, directed to Majavu Incorporated and Small-Smith & associates Inc, that she has decided to set aside the decision of the DPP South Gauteng to withdraw charges and that the prosecution will proceed,” he said.
Asked to comment on the decision, Kodwa said he has not received legal confirmation regarding this decision.
“We have not been formally notified about the reported decision by the NDPP. I will await formal communication through my lawyers and take it from there. It is interesting that this reached the media in the manner it did, infringing my rights as a law-abiding citizen,” he said.
A legal expert who requested to remain anonymous said that despite this move, state capture cases remain selective and factional.
The lawyer, who is currently in a legal tussle with the state, added that this is about “who is who”, adding that cases involving Bosasa and Phala Phala should be prioritised.
“So the approach is always factional,” he said.
“They can say all these things, but there are cases that are so key where we can see that this justice does not have eyes and feelings,” said the lawyer, adding that until such time everyone is treated equally, that will restore integrity and trust in the institution.
“Kodwa is not the big fish. The cases involving the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and Steinhoff. And what are they saying about it? The country has lost a huge amount of money. There is no prosecution there and we are talking about state capture,” he said.
Another legal expert, Vuyo Manisi, said: “At this moment, about four convictions have been secured for state capture-related cases. Those numbers do not really inspire confidence. But we must remember the NPA is dealing with very difficult cases here, so let us give it a chance to do its work.”
SATURDAY STAR