South Africa’s parliament speaker resigned on Wednesday, weeks after her house was raided in a graft probe more likely to damage the ruling African Nationwide Congress heading into Could elections.
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In a resignation letter seen by AFP, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula stated she determined to step down with instant impact to uphold the integrity of parliament and deal with the investigation towards her.
“Given the seriousness of the much-publicised allegations towards me, I can’t proceed on this position,” she wrote.
Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting hefty quantities in bribes from a former army contractor throughout her earlier tenure as defence minister. She denies the allegations.
Coming slightly below two months earlier than nationwide elections, the case has added to the woes of the ANC, which is struggling within the polls amid a weak economy and accusations of graft and mismanagement.
In energy because the creation of democracy in 1994, the celebration is anticipated to see its share of the vote drop under 50 % for the primary time in Could, probably forcing it to type a coalition to stay in energy.
The ANC praised Mapisa-Nqakula for safeguarding its status by stepping apart earlier than being requested to take action.
“We worth her dedication to sustaining the picture of our organisation,” the celebration stated.
However in her letter, the 67-year-old insisted her determination was in “no approach a sign or act of contrition”.
“I preserve my innocence and am decided to revive my good status,” she wrote.
Alleged bribes
Earlier this week, a court docket had rejected Mapisa-Nqakula’s pressing software searching for to forestall a potential arrest.
It adopted a March raid carried out by members of a prime investigative crew at Mapisa-Nqakula’s residence, a high-end property in an japanese suburb of Johannesburg.
Shortly after, she introduced she would take “particular go away”.
Native media experiences had accused the ANC veteran of soliciting 2.3 million rand ($121,000) in bribes from a former army contractor.
Opposition events together with the unconventional leftist Financial Freedom Fighters and the liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed her resignation.
“This resignation is a victory for accountability and Parliament. And by extension the folks of South Africa,” the DA stated. “These entrusted to steer and signify South Africa should be as much as the duty.”
Parliament stated the speaker would get replaced by her deputy, Lechesa Tsenoli.
Mapisa-Nqakula served as defence minister between 2014 and 2021 earlier than being appointed speaker in a transfer that drew a lot criticism from the opposition.
On the time, she had come beneath fireplace for perceived incompetence in responding to a spate of lethal unrest that noticed greater than 300 folks killed.
She is the most recent in a string of senior ANC politicians, together with the president and vice chairman, to be embroiled in graft scandals.
South Africans head to the polls in nationwide and provincial elections on Could 29.
(AFP)