In a significant development, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has resigned from her position as the Speaker of the National Assembly. This decision comes as she was set to hand herself over to the police on Wednesday to face multimillion-dollar corruption allegations.
The resignation, effective immediately, was communicated through a letter addressed to the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli.
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In the letter, Mapisa-Nqakula stated, “Today the 3rd of April, I have submitted… my letter of resignation as both Speaker of the National Assembly and a Member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.”
[BREAKING NEWS]
National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe #MapisaNqakula resigns. pic.twitter.com/Q5a8592yOx— Xoli Mngambi (@XoliMngambi) April 3, 2024
Prior to her resignation, Mapisa-Nqakula had sought an interdict to prevent her arrest in relation to the corruption allegations. However, on Tuesday, 2 April, Judge Sulet Potterill dismissed her request and ordered her to pay the costs.
In her ruling at the High Court in Pretoria, Potterill emphasized that granting such an order would set a precedent for suspects to evade arrest. She stated, “If the court grants such an order, the floodgates will be opened.”
Following the ruling, Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), expressed confidence in the justice system, stating, “The wheels of justice will now be in motion.” Mhaga also reiterated that there was no unlawful action taken against Mapisa-Nqakula to warrant an urgent interdict.
According to the police and the NPA, Mapisa-Nqakula, during her tenure as Defense Minister from 2012 to 2019, allegedly solicited bribes amounting to R4 million from Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the CEO of defence contractor Umkhombe Marine.
These bribes reportedly included items such as a wig and handbags. It is alleged that Ukmhombe Marine received defence contracts worth R210 million from the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) during Mapisa-Nqakula’s time as Defense Minister.
On 19 March, the Speaker’s home in Bruma, Johannesburg, was raided by the police, and evidence was seized. It was during this time that rumours of an imminent arrest began circulating, prompting Mapisa-Nqakula to file the unsuccessful interdict request.
Following the dismissal of her interdict request, Mapisa-Nqakula took special leave from her duties as Speaker. In a statement, she explained that her decision was aimed at protecting the integrity of Parliament and ensuring its reputation remains untarnished.
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Subsequently, Acting Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli announced that he had accepted a motion of no-confidence proposed by DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube. The Constitution allows for the removal of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker through a resolution adopted by a majority of assembly members present.
However, the date for the motion of no-confidence has not yet been announced. It is worth noting that the current parliamentary term is set to end on 21 May, just days before the general elections scheduled for 29 May 2024.
