By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, arrived at the Lyttelton police station in Centurion on Thursday morning to hand herself over.
During her tenure as Defence minister, Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly received 2.3-million-rand in bribes and gratifications from a defence contractor.
She has denied the allegations.
Mapisa-Nqakula, who resigned late on Wednesday, has delayed her arrest for weeks now, but will finally appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption.
She is expected to apply for bail.
The National Prosecuting Authority has indicated that it will not oppose bail.
The African National Congress (ANC) praised Mapisa-Nqakula for protecting its reputation by stepping aside before being asked to do so.
“We value her commitment to maintaining the image of our organisation,” the party said.
But in her letter, the 67-year-old insisted her decision was in “no way an indication or admission of guilt”.
“I maintain my innocence and am determined to restore my good reputation,” she wrote.
Parliament said the speaker would be replaced by her deputy, Lechesa Tsenoli.
Mapisa-Nqakula served as defence minister between 2014 and 2021 before being appointed speaker in a move that drew much criticism from the opposition.
At the time, she had come under fire for perceived incompetence in responding to a spate of deadly unrest that saw more than 300 people killed.
Mapisa-Nqakula is the latest in a string of senior ANC politicians, including the president and vice president, to be embroiled in graft scandals.