Kodwa denies rape claim

Allegations part of ‘dirty tricks’ campaign

ANC SPOKESPERSON Zizi Kodwa has described the allegations that he drugged a woman before raping her at a luxury Johannesburg hotel last year as a “dirty tricks” campaign.

Kodwa yesterday said he was informed by ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte a week ago that a woman had written a letter to the party accusing him of drugging her and another woman, and raping her.

“I deny these accusations with the contempt they deserve… I refuse to bow down to dirty tricks by cowards operating from factional dark corners, using women to fight or neutralise me.

“I detest the use of such serious societal maladies such as rape, sexual harassment and women abuse to simply achieve narrow factional and political ends.” On Saturday, Duarte confirmed to journalists that the woman, who is not an ANC member, wrote a letter to her detailing the complaint.

She said the party advised the woman to report the matter to the police. In the letter, the woman alleged that she was invited for drinks on a Saturday by her then-friend, Bosasa executive Papa Leshabane, at the upmarket Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton.

After having drinks with a group of people, including Kodwa, she decided not to drive home, but sleep over at one of the hotel’s apartments. The following morning, she said, Kodwa came to her room complimenting her, and she realised that Kodwa had slept in the next room. She alleged that Kodwa insisted they have champagne together. A friend of hers joined them and an hour later she and the friend felt dizzy and decided to take a nap. She alleged that hours later she and her friend woke up “aroused, kissing and inappropriately touching each other”.

She said she remembered opening the door for Kodwa and “everything went blank” thereafter until she woke up again and saw used condoms on the floor. Kodwa and two men were in the room. She said medical tests results showed that she had been drugged.

Kodwa said he was seeking legal advice.