South Africa drops corruption case against ex-minister

South Africa has dropped charges against former minister Zizi Kodwa, arrested in June in relation with a huge probe into state corruption under ex-president Jacob Zuma, prosecutors said Friday.

Kodwa, the former sports, arts and culture minister, was accused of taking 1.6 million rand ($85,000) in bribes in connection to contracts handed by the city of Johannesburg to upgrade and maintain the metro’s software systems.

Prosecutors said they were withdrawing charges against Kodwa, a member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, which lost its majority in a general election earlier this year, in part because of corruption allegations.

“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, Advocate Andrew Chauke, has taken a decision to withdraw the charges… against the former Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa,” spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the prosecution to drop the charges against Kodwa and his business associate Jehan Mackay, who was arrested in the same case.

But the national prosecuting authority said in a statement that “the prospects of a successful prosecution has diminished, owing to the change in circumstances brought about by new developments that came to light”.

Kodwa, who stepped down in July, said he welcomed the decision to drop the charges and alluded to his future within the ANC.

“I will resume my responsibility in the African National Congress,” he said outside the court on Friday, before adding he was “available” for a new job.

The ANC lost its outright parliamentary majority in May, forcing the party that led the fight against apartheid into a coalition with the opposition.

A major criticism of the ANC has been around corruption allegations and a judicial commission of inquiry led by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo was tasked with probing graft claims under former president Zuma.

Despite the probe, Zuma, who was forced out of office as president and ANC leader in 2018, won almost 15 percent of the 2024 vote under his recently formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.