Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula takes leave amid growing pressure

Speaker for the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has taken special leave from work following reports that she would be arrested today. This follows a raid at her house in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The Mail & Guardian (M&G) reported that Mapisa-Nqakula was expected to be arrested on Friday on corruption and money laundering charges involving roughly R4 million. Her lawyer, Stephen May, said she would hand herself over to the police in due course.

NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ARREST

However, in a statement issued Thursday night, Mapisa-Nqakula denied any knowledge of the arrest; she said no formal notification of an arrest warrant or communication regarding her arrest was communicated to her.

“In light of recent media speculations and allegations of my imminent arrest, 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,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

“My lawyers have, however, proactively informed the National Prosecution Authority of my readiness to comply and cooperate should the need arise,” she added.

MAPISA-NQAKULA TAKES SPECIAL LEAVE TO ‘PROTECT INTEGRITY OF PARLIAMENT’

The Speaker said that given the seriousness of the allegations and the extensive media speculation, she had decided to take special leave effective immediately to protect the integrity of Parliament.

“My lawyers have, however, proactively informed the National Prosecution Authority of my readiness to comply and cooperate should the need arise,” she said.

The embattled Speaker said she would be attending the l148th Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.

‘THE STATE HAS A FLIMSY CASE AGAINST HER,’ SAYS LAWYER

May, who spoke to the M&G, said he knew the state had a “flimsy” case against her. 

“There is certainly no desire to avoid a truth-finding process. We do have grave concerns about the timing at which this [arrest] comes and are very concerned about the nature and strength of the state’s case,” said May on Thursday. 

“It would certainly appear that [the state’s case] is flimsy at best, and now what it seems or looks like might be an opportunistic time [to charge her],” he added.

Political parties have been calling for Mapisa-Nqakula to quit after it emerged that the NPA’s Investigating Directorate raided her house. The EFF’s Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi said these were serious allegations against Mapisa-Nqakula. 

The EFF and DA have referred the allegations against the Speaker to the Joint Committee on Ethics.