South Africa’s National Assembly speaker resigns amid corruption allegations

By Hassan Isilow

South Africa’s National Assembly speaker late Wednesday announced her resignation from parliament amid ongoing corruption investigations against her.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula 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.

The 67-year-old became speaker in 2021 after serving as defense chief for nearly a decade.

"My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me,” she said in her resignation letter.

She added: “I have made a decision 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 Mapisa-Nqakula’s case was weak and not urgent.

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.