Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ South Africa’s parliament speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, resigned from her position and stepped down from the legislature amidst corruption allegations. This decision followed a court ruling denying her bid to prevent her arrest on charges of corruption.
Prosecutors have accused Mapisa-Nqakula of accepting approximately $135,000 in bribes from a defense contractor during her tenure as defense minister from December 2016 to July 2019. While another alleged bribe of $105,000 was reportedly not paid. Although Mapisa-Nqakula maintains her innocence, she decided to resign to focus on addressing the investigation launched against her by law enforcement agencies.
In her statement, Mapisa-Nqakula emphasized that her resignation does not imply guilt regarding the allegations. However, media reports in South Africa have detailed instances where she allegedly received bribes, including one occasion where she purportedly received over $15,000 and a wig at a meeting in the country’s main international airport in February 2019.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation is particularly significant for her party, the African National Congress (ANC), as it navigates a crucial juncture with looming elections amid widespread discontent over skyrocketing unemployment, escalating poverty rates, and a series of corruption scandals implicating party leaders. Recent polls indicate a notable decline in electoral support for the ANC, raising the possibility of it falling below the 50% mark for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994. The timing of Mapisa-Nqakula’s departure underscores the challenges facing the ANC and highlights the urgency for the party to address deep-rooted issues and regain public trust. Her resignation adds another layer of uncertainty to the political landscape, as the ANC grapples with internal divisions and external pressures ahead of a critical electoral contest that could reshape South Africa’s political landscape.
Following her resignation, it remains uncertain whether Mapisa-Nqakula will be arrested or surrender to authorities voluntarily, as the North Gauteng High Court rejected her plea to avoid arrest.
