Former South African Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is at the center of a corruption and money laundering case that has significantly impacted the African National Congress (ANC). Mapisa-Nqakula, who also served as Defence Minister from 2014 to 2021, faces serious charges related to alleged bribery involving a military contractor. Prosecutors claim she solicited over 4.5 million rand in bribes, with one key witness confirming a payment of 2.1 million rand. Despite these allegations, Mapisa-Nqakula has denied any wrongdoing, describing the case against her as weak and insisting she is not a flight riskkeywords
The legal challenges came to a head in April 2024, when Mapisa-Nqakula resigned from her role as Speaker of Parliament, just days after a raid on her residence by law enforcement. She made the decision to step down in order to focus on defending herself against the charges, which had begun to overshadow her leadership. Her resignation, along with her departure from Parliament, follows a broader pattern of corruption scandals affecting senior ANC figures, further damaging the party’s credibility
The timing of the case has created additional tension in the run-up to South Africa’s national elections, scheduled for May 2024. The ANC, already facing criticism over corruption and economic mismanagement, now finds itself grappling with another scandal involving a high-ranking official. The case against Mapisa-Nqakula has fueled calls from opposition parties, such as the Democratic Alliance (DA), for greater accountability within the government. As the legal proceedings continue, the political fallout could have far-reaching consequences for both her career and the ANC’s standing in the upcoming elections
