Johnathan Paoli
THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said it is deeply disappointed by the recent swearing-in of corruption accused and former Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa as a Member of Parliament (MP) on Tuesday.
COSATU parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks said the congress was concerned over the African National Congress (ANC)’s decision to ignore its own step-aside resolution concerning Kodwa’s nomination and swearing in as an MP.
“This is a poorly thought through and ill-considered decision by the ANC that undermines its progressive step aside resolution for public representatives,” Parks said, adding that the decision sent a worrying question to society on whether the ANC is committed to holding its public representatives accountable and its campaign of renewal.
Parks questioned the point of Kodwa’s resignation as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture only to be sworn in as an MP.
“Whilst we do not celebrate the difficulties that comrade Kodwa is going through and wish him well during his trial, it is not befitting to have Members of Parliament traipsing in and out of court,” he said.
Parks warned that this action would prove detrimental to the party’s attempt at winning back the confidence of workers and a society exasperated by a decade of state capture and corruption.
“We had hoped the humbling election results on May 29 would have been a sobering moment for our comrades at Luthuli House and an opportunity for serious self-introspection and correction. We can only hope that this moment may still dawn on them,” Parks said.
Kodwa, together with 58 candidates from the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, were sworn in at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Tuesday.
ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said, however, that Kodwa’s appointment as MP might not be in contradiction to the party’s ‘step-aside’ rule.
“The step-aside policy of the ANC doesn’t suggest that a person cannot serve as a backbencher, but that a person cannot serve as a senior leader in the public arena,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.
Earlier this month, Kodwa appeared alongside former executive Jehan Mackay, before the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court, facing corruption charges involving R1.7 million and was granted bail of R30 000.
The case is expected to be back in court on 23 July.
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