NEWSFLASH
Mapisa-Nqakula resigns as National Assembly Speaker — and as MP
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula resigned as National Assembly Speaker and MP late afternoon on Wednesday, two days after she lost a court bid to interdict her arrest over corruption allegations totalling R4.55m, dating back to her days as defence minister.
Stating her resignation was in no way an admission of guilt, now former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said:
“Given the seriousness of the much publicised allegations against me, I can not continue in this role. As a country’s chief lawmaker, 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…”
It was a “conscious decision” to resign to focus on the fallout of the Investigating Directorate (ID) investigation into a defence contractor’s claims that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited bribes totalling R4.55-million between 2017 and 2019.
A court appearance had been expected since the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria on Monday dismissed her interdict and discovery application. Details could not be checked with the lawyers.
“I have made his decision in order to uphold the integrity and sanctity of our Parliament, an apex institution of our system of government, representing the people of South Africa as a whole…” said Mapisa-Nqakula in a statement issued under Parliament’s letterhead.
DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube has welcomed the resignation.
“We believe that anyone who holds this high office should be beyond reproach, and Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is not suited for it,” she said as the MP who filed a no-confidence motion and ethics complaint against the now former Speaker in connection with the corruption claims.
“It is critical that we instil a culture of accountability with those entrusted with public office. The law must apply to all with equal measure and consistency”.
The IFP welcomed the resignation as “responsible”.
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald also welcomed the resignation, adding that “she had no choice as a symbol of Parliament…”
Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation was also received at Luthuli House. “… 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,” an ANC statement said.
ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It’s traditional that ANC MPs who resign also inform the chief whip. DM
This is a developing story
Took a while for the guilt to be realised… irrespective of the rhetoric stated in the resignation letter….
Long road ahead my lady just present you self to the authorities neh!
Now we hope for a trial, jail, seize all her property and distribute the proceeds to the poor
What makes my blood boil is that politicians and well connected rich people are “arrested” they are allowed to hand themselves in at their own leisure …the rest of us ordinary people will get handcuffed and thrown in the back of a police van and chucked in jail till a court hearing.
Let us all hope that her example, resigning at the 23rd hour, both serves as an example to others, and an acceptance that the game is up, is an inspiration to others.
It can never be too late to do the right thing.
Better late than never, I guess.
It’s a good that you took such decision comrade to protect the organization
To protect the other thieves, you mean.
Nope, I’ll wager a good sum that she was pushed, rather than that she jumped of her own volition. Elections are just around the corner after all, and the ANC is doing its level best to appear all-new, all-clean, all-fresh.
Never underestimate the venal mendacity of a collective politics.
I agree. No support was coming from the ANC. She needs to get used to eating prison food
By resigning (before being expelled) does she protect her For-Life Pension, which might otherwise have been forfeit?
I assume that’s what it’s all about, as she has over the years proven herself to be fundamentally without honour.
The ANC would do well to terminate her membership. Then watch her join Buzi on the EFF benches.