The former Speaker of Parliament in South Africa was indicted on Thursday on thirteen counts of corruption and money laundering in a case which resurfaced less than two months before crucial elections for the ruling ANC of which she is a figure. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, 67, appointed head of Parliament in 2021 and member of the all-powerful National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) which has ruled the country since the end of apartheid, was presented to a Pretoria court at midday.
A few hours earlier, she had been arrested after presenting herself at a police station south of Pretoria. With a somber face and dressed in a traditional fabric suit, she asserted her right to silence in court.
“Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula must answer to twelve counts of corruption and one count of money laundering
,” the representative of the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Bheki Manyathi, told the court. The prosecution told the court it would not object to Ms Mapisa-Nqakula being released on bail.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of having received large sums from a military contractor when she was Minister of Defense (2014-2021). The years-old case resurfaced last month through a mysterious prosecution witness. A search was already carried out at the home of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, in an affluent area of Johannesburg, a little over two weeks ago. Under threat of imminent arrest since this search, the former President of Parliament had filed an emergency request to avoid finding herself in detention, citing
“thin”
evidence gathered against her. But this appeal was rejected by the courts on Tuesday.
"I am innocent"
The judge, sitting in a Pretoria court, stressed that a suspect cannot
“invoke the weakness of the charges and prevent his arrest”
and noted
the “leniency”
of the authorities towards Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who in time has been left in particular to organize a defense, since the search. On Wednesday, the President of Parliament presented her resignation. She declared that she was leaving her position in order to preserve the integrity of the institution and to concentrate on the investigation opened against her.
“Given the seriousness of the high-profile accusations against me, I cannot continue in this position”
in Parliament, she explained in her resignation letter consulted by AFP.
She insisted that her withdrawal was
“in no way an indication or admission of guilt”
, assuring:
“I maintain that I am innocent and I am determined to restore my reputation”
. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had already been put on
“special leave”
the day after the search of her home. This affair comes less than two months before elections which are particularly risky for the ANC, losing popularity in particular due to an image tarnished by corruption cases and a gloomy socio-economic climate.
South Africans are called to the polls on May 29 to renew their Parliament, which will choose the next president. According to opinion polls, the historic party risks losing its absolute majority for the first time. After the search, the ANC soberly declared its intention to
“let justice take its course”
. The party then indicated, upon the announcement of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's resignation,
“appreciating”
the latter's desire to
“preserve the image of our organization”
. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), unanimously welcomed the resignation.
“Those charged with leading and representing South Africa must be up to the task
,” the DA castigated.