South African prosecutors have announced their intention to charge Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with corruption, alleging that she received $135,000 and a wig in bribes over a three-year period while she was defense minister. Mapisa-Nqakula has not been arrested or charged, and her claims that authorities did not properly inform her of the allegations or follow the correct procedure were discussed in a court hearing. The judge was expected to rule on a stay of arrest on the same day.
According to court papers submitted for the hearing, prosecutors claim that Mapisa-Nqakula received 11 payments totaling $135,000 between December 2016 and July 2019. She also allegedly sought another bribe of $105,000 that was not paid. Additionally, in February 2019, she received over $15,000 and a wig at a meeting at the country’s main international airport. The individual who allegedly paid the bribes was not named. Prosecutors have given Mapisa-Nqakula the opportunity to hand herself in at a police station and be taken to court to be formally charged, stating that they would not oppose her bail.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Mapisa-Nqakula has taken a leave of absence from her role as Parliament speaker. This is not the first time she has been accused of taking bribes, as a parliamentary investigation was previously dropped in 2021. The case has resurfaced after a whistleblower came forward last year, according to prosecutors. This corruption scandal involving Mapisa-Nqakula is just the latest to plague the ruling African National Congress party, which is gearing up for a significant national election on May 29.
The law enforcement authorities in South Africa have intensified their probe into the corruption allegations against Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The court hearing discussed her claims of being inadequately informed by the authorities about the allegations. Despite the mounting evidence against her, Mapisa-Nqakula has maintained her innocence and expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation. This scandal has caused her to take a leave of absence from her role as Parliament speaker ahead of a pivotal national election.
The bribes allegedly received by Mapisa-Nqakula amounted to a significant sum of $135,000, spread out over a three-year period. Additional allegations claim that she requested a further $105,000 bribe, which went unpaid. These serious accusations have sparked a renewed interest in investigating her conduct, as the prosecutors seek to hold her accountable for her alleged involvement in corruption. The case has drawn attention to the challenges of combating corruption within the political sphere in South Africa, particularly within the African National Congress party.
The investigation into Mapisa-Nqakula’s alleged corruption has highlighted the prevalence of graft scandals within the African National Congress party, impacting the party’s credibility as the nation approaches a critical national election. This latest scandal involving a high-ranking official has once again raised concerns about accountability and transparency in South African politics. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for the country’s political landscape and public perception of the government’s commitment to combating corruption. It remains to be seen how this controversy will influence voter attitudes and decision-making in the upcoming election.
