Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Resigns As National Assembly Speaker Amid Corruption Allegations
Image Source: National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, suffered a legal blow after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, dismissed her urgent application to interdict her impending arrest amid a corruption probe.
Published by: Dimphotsentle Pule
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula stepped down as National Assembly speaker and MP on Wednesday afternoon. This comes two days after she lost a court attempt to stop her arrest linked to corruption charges amounting to R4.55m from her time as defense minister.
In a surprising turn of events, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has resigned from her role as National Assembly speaker and MP. The announcement came on Wednesday afternoon, following her loss in a court bid to interdict her arrest over corruption allegations totaling R4.55 million, dating back to her tenure as defense minister.
In a statement issued under Parliament’s letterhead, Mapisa-Nqakula emphasized that her decision to resign was made to uphold the integrity and sanctity of Parliament, an institution representing the people of South Africa.
“I have made this decision to uphold the integrity and dignity of our Parliament, a fundamental institution of our government system, representing the entirety of South Africa’s people,” stated Mapisa-Nqakula in a statement issued on Parliament’s letterhead.
“Given the seriousness of the much publicised allegations against me, I can not continue in this role. As a country’s chief lawmaker, I hold a central responsibility to protect and preserve the integrity of Parliament by ensuring that my actions ensure that this sacred work must continue without blemish…”
The resignation has sparked various responses and reactions from political leaders and parties. She described her resignation as a “conscious decision” made to prioritize addressing the repercussions of the Investigating Directorate (ID) inquiry. The investigation revolves around allegations from a defense contractor, claiming that Mapisa-Nqakula sought bribes amounting to R4.55 million between 2017 and 2019.
A court appearance was anticipated following the dismissal of her interdict and discovery application by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria on Monday. Unfortunately, details could not be confirmed with her legal representatives.
DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube has expressed approval of the resignation. “We believe that anyone holding such a high office should be beyond reproach, and Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula is not suitable for it,” she remarked as the MP who lodged a no-confidence motion and ethics complaint against the former speaker regarding the corruption allegations. “It is crucial that we foster a culture of accountability among those entrusted with public office. The law must be applied equally and consistently to all.”
The IFP has welcomed the resignation as “responsible.”
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald also welcomed the resignation, stating that “she had no choice as a symbol of Parliament.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation marks a significant development in South African politics, as it reflects the ongoing struggle against corruption within the government. The fallout from her resignation and the corruption allegations will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of South Africa.
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