Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has stepped down as National Assembly speaker but said that her resignation does not imply her admission of guilt in the corruption allegations brought against her.
Mapisa-Nqakula could potentially be charged with 12 counts of corruption and bribery related to her tenure as the minister of defence. She is accused of soliciting more than R4m in bribes in return for government tenders from a former defence department contractor, who has become a witness for the prosecution.
She stated that she had made this “conscious decision in order to dedicate my time and focus to deal with the recently announced investigation against me by our country’s law enforcement agencies.
“My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me.”
Mapisa-Nqakula added: “I’ve made this decision in order to uphold the integrity and sanctity of our parliament and apex institution of our system of government, representing the people of SA as a whole the position of the speaker of National Assembly is critical in the reconstruction and development of a country.”
Given the seriousness and publicity around the allegations against her she could no longer serve as SA’s chief legislator, she said. “I hold a central responsibility to protect and preserve the integrity of parliament by ensuring that my actions ensure that [this] sacred work must continue without blemish.”
The ANC welcomed her resignation. It said in a statement: “In her resignation, comrade Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula highlighted her intention to protect the reputation of our organisation, the ANC, after dedicating more than 30 years of service. We value her commitment to maintaining the image of our organisation, as it reflects our principles of organisational renewal that promote proactive responsibility-taking among members, rather than waiting for instructions to step aside.”
According to a standing order in the party, any member charged with a serious crime should step aside from public office.
DA chief whip Siviwe Gwarube welcomed the resignation as “a victory for accountability and parliament, and by extension the people of SA.
“Those entrusted to lead and represent SA must be up to the task.”
Parliament’s integrity
GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron said it was unclear if Mapisa-Nqakula was pushed by her party or had voluntarily walked the plank, adding that parliament’s integrity had been spared the spectacle of an “unedifying debate on a motion of no confidence”.
Mapisa-Nqakula seems to have pre-empted that discussion in the ANC after losing a high court application to prevent her arrest earlier this week. The high court in Pretoria on Tuesday dismissed her application to block her arrest, saying the application was “unreasonable” and “speculative”.
On Tuesday, Business Day reported that Mapisa-Nqakula said she was willing to hand herself over to the police. She took special leave from her role in parliament in March.
Deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli has been appointed to act in her absence. Last week, he gave the green light to the DA’s application to have a motion of no confidence in the speaker debated in the house.
The EFF and UDM have both called for the immediate arrest of the speaker.
“Mapisa-Nqakula’s purported reason for resigning ... rings hollow in light of her recent audacious attempt to evade accountability for her alleged corrupt actions,” the EFF said.
“Just this week, she brazenly sought to interdict her own arrest, demonstrating a flagrant disregard for the gravity of the charges against her and proving that she has no genuine interest in co-operating with law enforcement agencies. Any individual truly dedicated to justice would willingly submit themselves to the appropriate authorities and co-operate with investigations,” it said in a statement.
Update: April 3 2024
This story has been updated to include reaction and more information throughout.
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