Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ A special investigations unit in South Africa conducted a search and seizure operation at the residence of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the Speaker of Parliament, lasting over five hours on Tuesday. The operation was part of a probe into allegations that she accepted bribes during her tenure as defense minister, as reported by Parliament.
Mapisa-Nqakula, a veteran lawmaker with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, denied any wrongdoing and reiterated her cooperation with the investigators. Parliament affirmed her commitment to transparency, stating that she had nothing to hide.
The investigation into Mapisa-Nqakula was prompted by revelations made by a newspaper earlier this month, alleging that she received bribes totaling at least $120,000 from a defense contractor between 2016 and 2019. According to reports, the money was delivered to her in cash concealed in gift bags.
The search operation was carried out by the investigating directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority, according to a spokesman.
Mapisa-Nqakula was scheduled to preside over a parliamentary session where lawmakers were to question President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, she did not attend, and the deputy speaker assumed her responsibilities.
The opposition Democratic Alliance party called for Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for integrity in high office.
This is not the first time Mapisa-Nqakula has faced accusations of corruption. Previous allegations surfaced during her tenure as defense minister, although a parliamentary investigation was dropped around the time of her appointment as Speaker in 2021.
The corruption allegations involving Mapisa-Nqakula add to a series of scandals that have tarnished the reputation of the ANC, particularly during the leadership of former President Jacob Zuma. Zuma himself is currently on trial for corruption charges dating back to before his presidency.
Despite extensive evidence of corruption presented to a commission of inquiry, prosecutions have been rare, and some individuals implicated in corruption have been cleared by the ANC to run as candidates in the upcoming national election on May 29.
The ANC’s credibility has been severely affected by these corruption scandals, and analysts predict that a decline in support for the party could lead to South Africa having a coalition government for the first time.
