Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula spotted in Paris amid calls for resignation
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula attended the 2024 Women Spears’ Summit in Paris amid calls for her resignation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa still has not commented on the corruption allegations made aginst National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The Former Defence Minister was spotted in Paris amid calls for her resignation from oppoisition parties.
The National Assembly Speaker is attending the 2024 Women Speakers’ Summit at the National Assembly of France in Paris.
NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA SPOTTED IN PARIS
As previously reported by The South African, in September 2021, a female whistle-blower, whose company was contracted to provide logistics to the Department of Defence made shocking allegations against Mapisa-Nqakula, including how she demanded bribes that amounting to approximately R5 million over two years.
All this was revealed in a statement sent by her lawyer to Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence.
“Cash payments ranging from R100 000 to R500 000 from 16th to 25th February, 13 March, 18 May 2018 and between 22 May, 5 and July 2018 while travelling to Ghana are some dates and amounts the minister extorted from our client,” the statement said.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa -Nqakula, joined by the Member of Parliament, Ms Doris Dlakude, during a meeting with SA Ambassador to France, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, for a courtesy call in Paris, France. pic.twitter.com/f7vIK5MTqf
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) March 6, 2024
Fast forward to 2024, the allegations have come back to bite Mapisa-Nqakula.
At the weekend, the Sunday Times reported that Mapisa-Nqakula was fingered in the cash bribery scandal by an affidavit submitted to the Investigative Directorate.
According to the affidavit filed by the owner of Umkhombe Marine Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the former defence minister received cash bribes delivered in gift bags from the company between 2016 and 2019.
In turn, Umkhombe Marine was awarded tenders worth over R200 million for freight and logistics to the SANDF.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, today addressed the Women Speakers Summit, hosted by the President of the French National Assembly, MsYaël Braun-Pivet, on the theme, "Equality in education, health, and the fight against violence”. pic.twitter.com/2u4zOOsfNp
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) March 7, 2024
POLITICAL PARTIES CALL FOR THE SPEAKER TO RESIGN
Following the allegations, various political parties have called for the wife of former politician Charles Nqakula to resign.
The EFF said its Parliamentary Caucus will report the Speaker to the Ethics Committee so that she is held accountable for allegedly taking bribes.
“Such blatant disregard for ethical conduct and the rule of law cannot be tolerated,” the party said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has already referred Mapisa-Nqakula to the Ethics Committee.
DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said Parliament is the cornerstone of South Africa’s democracy, tasked with representing the interests of its citizens and holding the executive accountable for its actions. As such, it cannot afford to be presided over by an individual embroiled in a corruption scandal.
“The Speaker of the National Assembly holds a position of immense responsibility, entrusted with upholding the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability,” she said.