By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says she will take “special leave” from her position amid the allegations of corruption against her.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations and the attendant extensive media speculation, I have decided to take special leave from my position as Speaker of the National Assembly, effective immediately,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
“This decision has been communicated to the Secretary of Parliament and to the President of the Republic in his capacity as Head of State.”
She said her decision is meant to protect the integrity of Parliament and ensure that its sacred duty and its name continue unblemished.
Mapisa-Nqakula also refuted claims that she is expected to be charged with corruption and money laundering, as reported by Fullview earlier.
“I wish to place it on record, that while the Investigative Directorate of the National Prosecution Authority conducted a search and seizure at my residence, there has been no formal notification of an arrest warrant or communication regarding an imminent arrest for me, neither to me nor my legal team.”
“My lawyers have, however, proactively informed the National Prosecution Authority of my readiness to comply and cooperate should the need arise,” she said.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyer, Stephen May, said whether his client would hand herself over to police was “under consideration”.
“But litigation is expected in the circumstances.”
The news of her imminent arrest came on the same day that Parliament announced that Mapisa-Nqakula would be leading a delegation to an Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
But Mapisa-Nqakula said she would not be attending the “long-planned” trip.
May also confirmed this, saying that she would remain in the country, adding that “any media reports to the contrary that she is going are false”.
Political parties have been calling for Mapisa-Nqakula to quit after it emerged that the NPA’s Investigating Directorate raided her house.
She said she had full respect for the law and will cooperate with any legal process.
During her time as a minister of Defence, Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly made several demands for money, from the owner of a company to secure a tender to transport army equipment back to South Africa.
The accusations against Mapisa-Nqakula were made in a sworn affidavit submitted to the Investigative Directorate by Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the owner of Umkhombe Marine.
The freight and logistics company reportedly scored R210 million in SANDF tenders in 2019, while the businesswoman was married to the military health services’ deputy surgeon-general, Noel Ndhlovu.
Umkhombe Marine transported SANDF cargo across the continent to military missions.
Meanwhile president Cyril Ramaphosa avoided the question on the raid at Mapisa-Nqakula’s home when he was responding to questions in Parliament on lifestyle audits for members of Cabinet.
He admitted that it has taken time for the process to be concluded.
When asked about members of the Executive who are found to be involved in corruption, he said the law must take its course.
“Any member of the executive who will have been found to have mismanaged the funds of the State must face the consequences. That has to be the case. Those who participate in activities that go against the ethics that are required, must face consequences and that is something I am clear on,” said Ramaphosa.