THEY usually say when it rains it pours and that seems to be the case for recently resigned National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
She's expected to appear in the Pretoria Specialised Crimes Court on Thursday, 4 April.
Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over at the Lyttelton Police Station on Thursday morning, 4 April.
She's facing several charges including 12 charges of corruption and money laundering.
She resigned with immediate effect on Wednesday, 3 April, due to political pressure from opposition parties.
Mapisa-Nqakula took leave two weeks ago following the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigative Directorate raid at her home in connection with the R4,5 million tjotjo.
She submitted her resignation letter to the Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli on Wednesday, 3 April.
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“Today, the 3rd of April, I have submitted to the acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Lechesa Tsenoli, my letter of resignation as both the Speaker of the National Assembly and a Member of Parliament of South Africa. The resignation is effective immediately,” she said.
Mapisa-Nqakula said she took the decision to dedicate her time and focus to deal with the recently announced investigation against her by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigative Directorate.
Mapisa-Nqakula has been the National Assembly Speaker since 19 August 2021. She is accused of taking bribes totalling R4,5 million from a contractor and they were allegedly paid in cash during her tenure as defence minister.
The Sunday Times reported that Mapisa-Nqakula was named in an affidavit submitted to the Investigative Directorate (ID) by the owner of Umkhombe Marine, Nombasa Ntsodwa-Ndlovu, a company responsible for transporting SANDF cargo during military operations.
Different opposition parties, including, the DA, EFF and UDM have been calling for her resignation and arrest.
On Tuesday, the Pretoria High Court dismissed Mapisa-Nqakula's bid for an interdict against her arrest.
Parliament's spokesman Moloto Mothapo confirmed that Mapisa-Nqakula resigned as the Speaker and the Tsenoli will continue in his role as Acting Speaker of the National Assembly.
More to follow on this story.
