South Africa : Parliament President arrested in corruption case
In South Africa, the Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, resigned on Wednesday and was subsequently arrested on Thursday after voluntarily presenting herself to the police as part of a corruption investigation dating back to her time as Minister of Defence (2014-2021).
According to the spokesperson for the South African National Prosecuting Authority, Henry Mamothame, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula surrendered to the police on Thursday morning following serious accusations against her in a bribery case involving a defense sector company during her tenure as Minister of Defence.
« Given the gravity of the highly publicized accusations against me, I cannot continue in this position », in Parliament, explained the accused in her resignation letter.
« She is to be presented before a Pretoria court » later in the day, Henry Mamothame clarified.
According to prosecutors, the Speaker of Parliament received 11 payments totaling 2.3 million rand in bribes ($135.000) between December 2016 and July 2019.
Opposition legislators demanded her resignation from the position of Speaker of Parliament due to these allegations.
Forced to act, she announced her resignation from the presidency of the South African Parliament on Wednesday, « given the seriousness of the highly publicized allegations », against her.
Her home was searched two weeks ago, and she urgently sought to avoid her arrest. An application for relief was rejected by the court on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Mapisa-Nqakula, 63, is the latest figure from the African National Congress to face corruption allegations as the party prepares to contest national elections this year amid a tense socio-political climate.
