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About the R174,000 payment to Kodwa, Sodi said it was a loan to “a friend.”
According to him, Kodwa had “financial challenges” while working at Luthuli House, known for delays in paying staff salaries.
It was at times like these that Kodwa would call him to step in and he did it because they were friends.
Sodi said: “Zizi [Kodwa] he is a friend that I have known for several years [and I] he made payments to him in a personal capacity while he was still working for the ANC before he became deputy minister.
“These were payments I made to him as a friend when he asked for help multiple times.”
The commission also heard that Sodi had paid R3.5m for the purchase of T-shirts for ANC volunteers. He admitted that he did this because he was a supporter of the ANC, although not a member of the ruling party with a license.
“Because I grew up in the ANC, the fact that there had been some donations from me or my company, I don’t see it as strange, fraudulent or corrupt unless someone convinces me otherwise,” Sodi said. “I am not saying that there is a crime in someone who supports a political party of their choice.”
Sodi is under scrutiny for how Blackhead Consulting was awarded an R255m contract for the eradication of asbestos roofs in the Free State. He had subcontracted the work for R41m and the subcontractor also subcontracted for less than R20m.
Sodi must testify before the commission again on a date yet to be determined.
The commission has postponed the session to the day after the postponement of the testimony of the former MEC of the Free State for human settlements Mosebenzi Zwane until October 13.
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