On Monday, South African prosecutors announced their plan to prosecute the parliamentary speaker for corruption. The accusation claims that she received $135,000 (£107,000) and a wig in exchange for bribes during her three-year term as defence minister.
The National Assembly’s speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has not faced arrest or charges. During a court hearing, prosecutors discussed her statement that she was not adequately informed of allegations and regulations were not followed.
On Monday, it was anticipated that the judge would make a decision on whether to delay the arrest.
According to legal documents presented during the trial, prosecutors state that Mapisa-Nqakula was given a total of $135,000 in 11 payments from December 2016 to July 2019. She also requested a bribe of $105,000 but it was not paid, as reported by prosecutors.
According to documents, in February 2019, at a meeting held at the primary international airport of the country, Mapisa-Nqakula was given over $15,000 and a wig.
The individual accused of making the payments has not been identified.
She was offered the chance by the prosecutors to surrender at a police station and then be escorted to court for formal charges. They declared that they would not contest her request for bail.
The individual known as Mapisa-Nqakula has denied any wrongdoing and has promised to assist authorities after they conducted a search of her home in Johannesburg and gathered evidence last week.
She temporarily stepped down from her position as speaker. She faced allegations of accepting bribes in the past, but a government inquiry was terminated in 2021. The issue resurfaced when a person exposed information last year, according to prosecutors.
The current corruption scandal involving the ruling African National Congress party has become the most recent issue, just as the party gears up for a crucial national election on May 29th.
Source: theguardian.com
