SA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER’S HOME RAIDED IN CORRUPTION PROBE
JOHANNESBURG South African investigators raided the home of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula this Tuesday as part of a corruption inquiry against her, the parliament said.
The operation by the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) Investigating Directorate was linked to a probe into alleged corruption during the speaker's time as Defence Minister, parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said.
“The speaker steadfastly upholds her strong conviction of innocence, and reaffirms that she has nothing to hide,” parliament said in a statement.
“She has welcomed investigators into her home, cooperating fully during the extensive search that lasted over five hours.”
Neither the parliament nor the NPA provided more details on the investigation or the corruption allegations. It was not clear if any
charges would be brought against her.
A veteran of the governing African National Congress, Mapisa-Nqakula was South Africa's defence minister from 2012 to 2021.
The raid at her house in Johannesburg’s eastern suburb of Bruma drew a call from the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, for her to step down.
Earlier this month the Sunday Times, which is based in the city, reported that she solicited $122, 000 in bribes from a contractor while she was defence minister, citing the contractor.
Mothapo added that Mapisa-Nqakula is “disturbed” by the allegation.
“Corruption” poses a significant threat to the principles of democracy and good governance, and fundamentally contradicts everything the Speaker represents. Therefore, she is profoundly disturbed by such allegations. –