Picture: The former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
By BAKANG MOKOTO
A corruption and money laundering case against the former Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has been postponed to 16 October 2014, by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for pre-trial conference at the Pretoria High Court. The Investigating Directorate (ID) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the state has served Nqakula with an indictment in order to prepare for the high court proceedings.
Mamothame further said Nqakula is facing 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering. He added that these charges relate to her tenure between 2016 and 2019 when she was the Minister of Defence, wherein she allegedly received and solicited approximately R4,5 million from a service provider to the department, of which R2,1million was received in cash.
“She is currently out on R50 000 bail and is expected to appear at the Pretoria High Court in October,” said Mamothame.
Picture: The former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
By REGINALD KANYANE
A corruption case against the former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has been postponed to 9 July 2024, for a high court date and provision of an indictment. Mapisa-Nqakula, who is facing corruption and money laundering case, briefly appeared in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said the Investigating Directorate (ID), has provided her with a full disclosure of the docket and it was further confirmed that a list of state witnesses was provided to her on 8 April 2024, in order for her to comply with her bail condition of not having any direct or indirect contact with the state witnesses.
Picture: The former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
By OBAKENG MAJE
The former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, briefly appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today, on charges of corruption and money laundering. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, this comes after Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over at the Lyttleton Police Station in Centurion.
Mamothame further said, Mapisa-Nqakula was granted a R50 000 bail and her bail conditions are that she should surrender her passport to the investigating officer and should have no direct or indirect contact with the state witnesses. He added that the matter was postponed to 4 June 2024 for the arrest of the second accused in this matter.
“The Investigating Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority (IDNPA), brought 12 charges of corruption and one of money laundering against Mapisa-Nqakula, following investigations into allegations that during her tenure as the Minister of Defence, in the period between 2016 and 2019, she allegedly solicited an amount of approximately R4,5 million, of which R2,1 million was received in cash.
“Prior to her handing herself to the authorities, a search and seizure operation was carried out at her home by members of the ID on 19 March 2024, as part of investigations against her. On 2 April 2024, the Pretoria High Court dismissed her application with costs to interdict her arrest,” said Mamothame.
Picture: The former Speaker of National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The embattled National Assembly speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has resigned from her position and also as a Member of Parliament (MP). Mapisa-Nqakula said in a statement that she has submitted her resignation letter to the acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli.
“My letter of resignation as both the Speaker of the National Assembly and a Member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. The resignation is effective immediately. I have made this conscious decision in order to dedicate my time and focus to deal with the recently announced investigation against me by our country’s law enforcement agencies.
“My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me. I have made this decision in order to uphold the integrity and sanctity of our parliament, an apex institution of our system of government, representing the People of South Africa as a whole,” she said.
Mapisa-Nqakula further said the position of the speaker of the NA of the Republic of South Africa is critical in the reconstruction and development of the country. She added that, given the seriousness of the much-publicised allegations against her, she cannot continue in this role.
“As a country’s chief lawmaker, I hold a central responsibility to protect and preserve the integrity of parliament by ensuring that my actions ensure that its sacred work must continue without blemish.
“I believe that, at the right time, I will have the opportunity to thoroughly address these allegations as and when they have been formally brought against me in the appropriate forums, at which time I will clear my good name. I maintain my innocence and am determined to restore my good reputation,” said Mapisa-Nqakula.
She said as a member of the ANC, she has spent half of her life in the forefront of the struggle to defend the freedom and rights of all South Africans, 30 of these years in her capacity as MP and the Executive.
Mapisa-Nqakula said part of the principle for which she and many other comrades fought for, is the principle for every South African to be deemed innocent until proven guilty.
“Given the public trust entrusted in me as a Speaker of our National Assembly and the need for me to protect the image of our organisation the African National Congress, I have an obligation, despite the principle that I should be deemed innocent, to step down from my office.
“I have also written to my organisation to thank the African National Congress informing the leadership of my decision and to thank the ANC for having given me the opportunity and trusted me with many senior leadership responsibilities in service of our people and our Revolution over the years,” she said.
Mapisa-Nqakula said she remains a dedicated member of the African National Congress, a movement she has remained loyal to all her political life.
The Guardian 