The Johannesburg residence of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was raided on the morning of 19 March by the Investigating Directorate (ID) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The raid is believed to be linked to corruption allegations made by a former defence contractor, alleging that Mapisa-Nqakula had solicited bribes totalling R2.3 million between 2017 and 2019 during her tenure as defence minister.
This follows a complaint filed against Mapisa-Nqakula by the Democratic Alliance (DA) earlier this month with Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests.
In a statement released on 19 March, Parliament acknowledged that Mapisa-Nqakula’s house had been searched, stating, “The Speaker steadfastly upholds her strong conviction of innocence, and reaffirms that she has nothing to hide.” The statement also highlighted her cooperation during the five-hour search and added that Mapisa-Nqakula welcomed investigators into her home.
The raid poses a significant challenge for President Cyril Ramaphosa, with just over two months before national elections, and further magnifies the African National Congress’s historic entanglement with corruption allegations.
The presidential Q&A session in the National Assembly unfolded mere hours after the raid, with Mapisa-Nqakula notably absent from her usual position. This was observed by opposition parties and swiftly utilised as a means to question President Ramaphosa about the Speaker’s absence and its connection to other allegations of corruption.
In a statement released later that day, DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube called for Mapisa-Nqakula to step down. “The Rules of Parliament envision that the Speaker is someone who “upholds the dignity and good name of the House. Having one’s home raided due to corruption allegations of this serious nature defies the very essence of this requirement by the Rules,” stated Gwarube.
However, ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina has maintained that Mapisa-Nqakula should not step down, echoing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stance on allowing due process to unfold.
