On Wednesday, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, announced her resignation amidst a corruption investigation stemming from her tenure as the country’s defense minister.
The decision to step down came after investigators searched her home last month, although the specific details of the allegations have not been disclosed.
Mapisa-Nqakula made it clear that her resignation, effective immediately, should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt. However, this move also signifies the end of her tenure as a member of parliament, a role she held concurrently with her position as defense minister from 2012 to 2021.
Reports from South Africa’s state-owned broadcaster SABC suggest that Mapisa-Nqakula is suspected of accepting millions of rand in bribes from a defense contractor. Following the search of her home, she took a leave of absence and, shortly before her resignation, failed in a legal attempt to prevent a potential arrest.
As of now, Mapisa-Nqakula has not been formally charged with any criminal offenses, and there has been no official statement from the police regarding her potential arrest. This development is a significant moment in South Africa’s political landscape, underscoring the ongoing concerns surrounding corruption within the government.