President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Maropene Ramokgopa to act as Sports, Arts and Culture Minister following Zizi Kodwa’s resignation on Wednesday.

Ramokgopa is currently the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Friday said Ramaphosa had received the resignation letter on Wednesday after Kodwa was formally charged with corruption in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s court.

Magwenya said: “President Ramaphosa accepted Minister Kodwa’s resignation and thanked Mr Kodwa for his service to the nation as Deputy Minister of State Security from 2019 to 2023, and Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture from March 2023.

“President Ramaphosa has appointed Minister Maropene Ramokgopa to act as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture until a permanent appointment is made under the new seventh administration.”

READ | ‘Streetwise Zizi’: Unpacking corruption charges against Zizi Kodwa, Jehan Mackay

The announcement comes as South Africa is in the process of forming a Government of National Unity following the general elections on 29 May.

Ramokgopa is also the ANC’s second deputy secretary-general.

Kodwa, who appeared in court, alongside former EOH boss Jehan Mackay, in connection with allegations that he received R1.6 million in bribes, resigned from his ministerial position.

News24 reported that the magistrate, Sheron Soko-Rantao, granted bail to Kodwa and Mackay.

READ | Zizi Kodwa granted R30 000 bail, steps down as sports minister amid corruption trial

The case was postponed to 23 July for the docket to be disclosed to the defence, and for pre-trial consultations.

The charges against Kodwa form part of a probe into contracts, worth more than R460 million, which the City of Johannesburg awarded to EOH Holdings in 2016. 

The company was hired to upgrade and maintain the metro’s software systems.

News24 previously reported that the Zondo Commission had found that Kodwa was implicated in questionable transactions.

Zizi Kodwa resigned as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture on Wednesday amdi corruption allegations. (Melinda Stuurman/Netwerk24)

Between February 2014 and April 2015, EOH-related entities and Mackay were said to have made cash payments, of around R1.6 million, to Kodwa, who allegedly benefitted from luxury accommodation, loans and other gratuities.

On Thursday, Kodwa reportedly wrote to the party’s national executive committee, to inform the structure of his intention to immediately abide by the step-aside rule.

According to an X post by SABC journalist Samkele Maseko, Kodwa said: “I do this in strict compliance with ANC 55 Conference resolution on renewal. In addition, to ensure avoidance and protection of the name and reputation of the organisation during the case proceedings against me, I remain a committed and a disciplined member of the African National Congress! I will keep you informed on the status and progress of my case.”