'Mapisa-Nqakula must step down!'

POLITICAL parties are calling for the removal of the National Assembly (NA) speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

This is after the Hawks raided her house on Wednesday, 19 March.

The Speaker is facing allegations of corruption relating to claims that she had received and solicited at least R2,3 million in cash from a former military contractor during her tenure as defence minister. 

Mapisa-Nqakula has since denied the claims, but opposition parties are calling for her to step down from her parliamentary role.

The DA said ultimately, as the head of the legislature in South Africa, the Speaker holds a position of great responsibility and the rules of Parliament envision that the Speaker is someone who upholds the dignity and good name of the House.

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“Having one’s home raided due to corruption allegations of this serious nature defy the very essence of this requirement by the Rules.

She said the seriousness of the allegations against the Speaker raises significant doubts about her ability to fulfil this crucial role.

Freedom Front Plus (FF+) leader Pieter Groenewald said his party welcomes the raid and the investigation conducted against Mapisa-Nqakula.

“The South African public have the right to know the truth. Mapisa-Nqakula should immediately step down as Speaker seeing as the allegations relate to her integrity. Remaining in office while the investigation is ongoing would taint Parliament's integrity,” he said.

Meanwhile, ActionSA member Atholl Trollip said the party won’t hold its breath about what will come of the raid.

“Calling for her to abide by the ANC’s own compromised step aside policy is absolutely futile because their parliamentary and legislature list are all jam packed with comrades who have had to step aside yet they are being presented for re-election,” he said.

Trollip said the only way to remove Mapisa-Nqakula is to remove the ANC on 29 May in the polls.