South Africa’s Speaker of Parliament resigns over corruption allegation

South Africa’s Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has resigned following a police raid on her home during a corruption investigation. The investigation centres around accusations that Ms Mapisa-Nqakula solicited bribes in exchange for awarding contracts during her tenure as defence minister.

Denial of Charges and Resignation

Ms Mapisa-Nqakula has vehemently denied the charges and stated that her resignation is not an admission of guilt. She emphasized that the seriousness of the probe compelled her to step down from her role as Speaker of Parliament.

Legal Battle and Rejection

Last week, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyers filed a request for a court order to prevent her arrest, citing a violation of her dignity. However, on Tuesday, judges rejected her bid, deeming the matter non-urgent and refraining from speculating on an arrest that had not yet occurred.

Alleged Demands for Money and Tender Securing

According to the Business Day newspaper, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of making several demands for money, totaling $120,000 (£96,000), from a company owner. These demands were allegedly made to secure a tender for transporting army equipment back to South Africa from another African country.

Timing and Election Implications

The resignation comes ahead of next month’s general election, which poses potential challenges for the ruling African National Congress (ANC). The ANC, in power since 1994, has faced repeated allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds, making these issues significant factors in the upcoming election.