Six witnesses lined up for prosecution in Zizi Kodwa kickback trial

The state intends to call six witnesses in the matter of former sport, arts and culture minister Zizi Kodwa and former EOH boss Jehan Mackay.

Kodwa and MacKay appeared briefly in the Palm Ridge commercial crimes court on Tuesday and the matter was postponed to August 21.

Kodwa’s lawyer Zola Majavu applied for the state to provide them with further information after the disclosure of the accused’s dockets and charge sheets.

The matter was postponed for the state to reply to the request.

Majavu said that after the bail application in the previous appearance the state had disclosed who the witnesses were.

Kodwa and Mackay are out on bail of R30,000 each.

The case emanates from the state capture commission, which heard testimony that Kodwa was allegedly paid R1.6m in kickbacks by Mackay.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the NPA has been ready to proceed with the trial and were in a position to disclose the contents of the dockets when the matter was enrolled.

“The accused are within their rights to exercise recourse mechanisms. Accused number one’s [Kodwa] lawyer indicated they will use the time provided by the court to decide whether they will bring representations.”

She added that the NPA hoped it would be in a position to deal with the interlocutory applications before the trial but it would proceed with the trial. The court also ordered Kodwa and Mackay to not interact with or contact the witnesses.

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