Cape Town – The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) raided the home of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who has recently been the subject of media reports alleging that she took bribes when she was Defence Minister.
In a statement, Parliament said it “wishes to confirm that the National Prosecution Authority conducted a search and seizure procedure this morning at the residence of the Speaker of the National Assembly Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula”.
The statement added: “This operation is linked to the agency’s widely publicised investigation into alleged corruption reportedly involving the Speaker’s tenure as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
“The Speaker steadfastly upholds her strong conviction of innocence, and reaffirms that she has nothing to hide.”
The statement said, in line with this, Mapisa-Nqakula has welcomed investigators into her home, cooperating fully during the extensive search that lasted over five hours. “The Speaker’s commitment to serving the public with honour and integrity remains unwavering,” the statement further said.
“Corruption poses a significant threat to the principles of democracy and good governance and fundamentally contradicts everything the Speaker represents. Therefore, she is profoundly disturbed by such allegations.
“This morning’s events have inevitably interrupted the Speaker’s parliamentary diary, including her role in presiding over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s question-and-answer session in the National Assembly. In light of her absence, the Deputy Speaker will assume this role and preside over the session.”
The raid comes three years the UDM and DA pushed for an investigation into allegations that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited and was paid up to R2.3 million cash between November 2016 and July 2019 by a contractor of the South African National Defence Force.
A week ago, the allegations were corroborated by the Sunday Times article alleging a bribe was delivered in gift bags by Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the wife of a general in the military health who was at the time working in the military logistics industry and married to a general in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Original article: The Bulrushes
