Charges were withdrawn against former Sports, Arts and Culture minister Zizi Kodwa (54) and his co-accused, former EOH Holdings executive Jehan Mackay (47), in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court earlier today.

The duo faced charges under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004.

According to a previous statement by Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, the two handed themselves over at Bramley Police Station in June, after warrants for their arrest were issued. Kodwa resigned on the same day (June 5).

Their arrests followed recommendations in the Zondo Commission’s fourth report on State Capture, published in June 2022. The commission found that Kodwa was allegedly implicated in a probe regarding contracts worth over R460m that the City of Johannesburg awarded to EOH Holdings in 2016.

According to the commission’s findings, EOH was hired to upgrade and maintain the city’s software systems.

The commission further found that EOH-related entities and its former director, Mackay, allegedly made payments of R1.6m to Kodwa.

In court

The duo was previously granted R30 000 bail each, and the case has been postponed multiple times. Today’s appearance was their last, as the court heard that in correspondence dated October 31, Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke indicated that the ‘charges against both accused should be withdrawn’. As a result, the state has withdrawn the charges.

Watch the proceedings: