Cape Town — Following the controversial decision to allow embattled former minister, Zizi Kodwa, to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP), the African National Congress (ANC) is facing calls for Kodwa to resign once again.
Kodwa resigned as Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, after he was charged with corruption for allegedly accepting R1.7 million worth of bribes. He was sworn-in as an MP on Tuesday alongside the 58 uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party members after missing the first swearing-in.
There have now been growing calls for Kodwa to resign and many have questioned why the ANC allowed him to be sworn-in, despite no decision made on his corruption charges. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), was perplexed by Kodwa’s swearing-in, as it does not paint a good picture for the ANC, IOL reported.
“Zizi got the right idea when he resigned at the beginning of the month. We were hoping that sense will prevail and he will excuse himself once again because he will be going in and out of court. The optics are not great,” Cosatu spokeseperson, Zanele Sabela, said.
Cosatu says it’s disappointed in its alliance partner, the ANC for forging ahead with the swearing-in of corruption-accused member, Zizi Kodwa. Cosatu spokesperson Zanele Sabela says the ANC is tone-deaf as the election results showed that South Africans want change.
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ActionSA have also called for a probe into the swearing-in of Kodwa. The party’s preliminary caucus leader, Athol Trollip, said Kodwa’s return goes against everything that the ANC and president Ramaphosa have been saying, SABC News reported.
“Zizi Kodwa resigned shortly before the election as the Minister because there were serious charges of corruption against him. There’s a prima facie case of corruption against him. He’s out on bail and he gets sworn in to Parliament. So two things have happened.” Trollip said
“One, the integrity Commission of the ANC is clearly not working, because even Cosatu (Congress of South African Trade Unions) has questioned him being sworn in, we are questioning him being sworn in. We are going to demand that the Ethics Committee that they investigate Mr Zizi Kodwa. Because we don’t believe he’s suitable to serve as a Member of Parliament,” he added.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
