Former South African Parliament Speaker Charged with 12 counts of Corruption
South Africa’s former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has been charged with 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. The charges stem from allegations of soliciting bribes in exchange for awarding contracts during her tenure as defence minister.
Mapisa-Nqakula appeared in court after surrendering herself to a police station on Thursday morning. Despite denying any wrongdoing in court, prosecutor Bheki Manyathi asserted that there was “ample evidence” against her.
The veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, aged 67, was released on bail following her court appearance. Her resignation from office on Wednesday came amid ongoing investigations, although she maintained that it was not an admission of guilt but rather a response to the seriousness of the probe.
Last month, authorities raided Mapisa-Nqakula’s home in Johannesburg as part of the corruption investigation. The allegations against her involve demands for money totaling $120,000 from a company owner in exchange for securing a tender to transport army equipment within Africa.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation comes just weeks before South Africa’s general election, which is anticipated to be challenging for the ruling African National Congress (ANC). The ANC, in power since 1994, has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement, making it a focal point in the upcoming election.
