Accused of corruption, South Africa’s ex-National Assembly speaker hands herself over to police

By Hassan Isilow

A former South African National Assembly speaker on Thursday handed herself over to the police near Pretoria, where she is expected be appearing on corruption charges.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula resigned from both her leadership post and parliament on Wednesday as she faces ongoing corruption investigations.

The 67-year-old is accused of taking bribes from contractors totaling 4.5 million rand (nearly $240,000) during her tenure as defense minister, an allegation she denies.

Mapisa-Nqakula became speaker in 2021 after serving as defense chief for nearly a decade.

The outspoken veteran of the ruling African National Congress party (ANC) is expected to appear in the dock at the Pretoria Magistrates Court as the chief figure in a corruption case that she insists is politically motivated.

In her resignation letter on Wednesday, she said she could not continue with her role as speaker because it would compromise the integrity of parliament.

"My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me,” she wrote, saying she stepped down “in order to uphold the integrity and sanctity of our Parliament, an apex institution of our system of government, representing the people of South Africa"

On Tuesday, a court in Pretoria dismissed her urgent court application to prevent law enforcement authorities from arresting her over the corruption allegations.

Judge Sulet Potterill said the relief the speaker was seeking would set a precedent for other suspects, adding that she had been given a chance to hand herself over to the police, an opportunity other accused individuals rarely get.

Several opposition parties welcomed her resignation.

“We have long called for this resignation when allegations of corruption and money laundering were levelled against her. We believe that anyone who holds this high office should be beyond reproach, and Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is not suited for it,” the main opposition party Democratic Alliance said in a statement Wednesday night.

The Economic Freedom Fighters party, the third-largest in parliament, called for her arrest and prosecution. “We call for swift action to be taken and prosecute her and all those implicated in corruption,” it said.