Friday, October 10, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About TimeAfrica Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » Politics » $122,000 Bribe: South Africa’s Speaker of Parliament Steps Aside Amid Probe

$122,000 Bribe: South Africa’s Speaker of Parliament Steps Aside Amid Probe

March 22, 2024
in Politics
0
542
SHARES
4.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

South Africa’s parliament speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has taken ‘special leave’ amidst an ongoing corruption probe.

Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting bribes in return for contracts during her tenure as defense minister.

Earlier this week, her home was raided by police. She maintains innocence and claims cooperation with investigators.

Mapisa-Nqakula said in a statement on Thursday the decision is her own and she took the step to protect the legislature’s integrity.

The Democratic Alliance, the main opposition party, called on the speaker to vacate her post after the five-hour search of her residence in the east of Johannesburg by investigators working on behalf of the National Prosecuting Authority.

ReadAlso

Renaissance Seeks Partners to Unlock Nigeria’s Oil, Gas Potential

Angola Seeks to Award 60 Concessions by Year-End through Licensing Drive

In a statement on Friday, Mapisa-Nqakula’s office denied media reports that she had been arrested, and said she had demanded access to all material related to the “baseless” allegations against her so she could prepare a defense.

“We can confirm that the speaker and her family are at home and that she has had no interaction with the NPA investigative directorate since the search-and-seizure operation at her house on Tuesday,” it said. “We can also confirm that this morning the speaker has filed papers in court challenging the manner in which the search-and-seizure warrant was obtained and the operation itself.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Mike Ramagoma, the speaker’s special adviser, said by phone that she had also filed court papers against the NPA, asking that they be interdicted from pursuing the case against her.

Earlier this month the Johannesburg-based Sunday Times newspaper reported that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited 2.3 million rand ($122,000) in bribes from a contractor while she was defense minister, citing the contractor. She has denied wrong-doing.

The raid is a headache for President Cyril Ramaphosa just over two months before national elections with the ruling African National Congress dogged by graft allegations.

An elite unit of South Africa’s police has raided the Johannesburg home of the speaker of parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, over corruption allegations.

She has been accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts when she served as defence minister.

“The Speaker steadfastly upholds her strong conviction of innocence,” said a statement from parliament.

The police unit was acting on behalf of state prosecutors who have been carrying out an investigation.

The statement from parliament said that the police “conducted a search and seizure procedure” at Ms Mapisa-Nqakula’s residence, adding that she “welcomed the investigators into her home, co-operating fully” during the five-hour search.

The 67-year-old veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle became speaker in 2021. Before that, she served as defence minister for seven years.

During her time in that post, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly made several demands for money, amounting to $120,000 (£96,000), from the owner of a company to secure a tender to transport army equipment back to South Africa from elsewhere on the continent, the Business Day newspaper reports.

Cyril Ramaphosa became president in 2018 on a pledge to tackle corruption in the country. His predecessor, Jacob Zuma, was accused of overseeing a huge effort to divert state resources, charges he denies.

Ms Mapisa-Nqakula herself believes that “corruption poses a significant threat to the principles of democracy and good governance”, parliament said.

“Therefore, she is profoundly disturbed by such allegations.”

In a brief statement, the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed the search operation, but gave no other details and did not say when or whether any charges would be brought.

Tags: Nosiviwe Mapisa-NqakulaParliamentSouth Africa
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Why India’s Next Election Will Last 44 Days

Next Post

Why Russia, China vetoed US resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

You MayAlso Like

Politics

APC Dissolves Enugu Executive, Appoints Caretaker Committee Ahead of Governor Mbah’s Anticipated Defection

October 10, 2025
Politics

Seychelles president seeks second term as people vote in African tourist haven

September 27, 2025
Politics

Malawi President Concedes Election to His Predecessor

September 25, 2025
Politics

Ivory Coast’s ‘iron lady’ – from hiding in a bunker to presidential hopeful

September 13, 2025
Politics

Suspended But Not Returned: Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Fight For Reinstatement Stalls Amid Legal Uncertainty

September 9, 2025
Politics

Wike condemns the idea of Peter Obi’s return to the PDP as dangerous

September 1, 2025
Next Post

Why Russia, China vetoed US resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Gaza

HRM King Apostle Chinyere Donates Bicycles To All Children In OPM Free School For Autism And Down Syndrome

Discussion about this post

Kingdom in Crisis: Ogwashi-Uku Rejects Obi’s Land Grab, Villages Ready to Declare Autonomy

Faked or Factual: UNN Contradictory Claims on Minister Uche Nnaji Certificate Raise Questions of Credibility

Woman appointed Archbishop of Canterbury 

A Minister of Lies?: Uche Nnaji’s Certificate Scandal and the Collapse of Credibility in Nigerian Governance

Certificate Scandal: University of Nigeria Declares Minister Uche Nnaji Never Graduated

Nigeria’s Anglican Church Rescinds Ties with Canterbury Amid Controversy Over ‘Pro-Gay’ Female Archbishop

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1242 shares
    Share 497 Tweet 311
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1067 shares
    Share 427 Tweet 267
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    974 shares
    Share 390 Tweet 244
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    905 shares
    Share 362 Tweet 226
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    735 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

APC Dissolves Enugu Executive, Appoints Caretaker Committee Ahead of Governor Mbah’s Anticipated Defection

October 10, 2025

President Tinubu Pardons Herbert Macaulay, Vatsa, Lawan, Grants Clemency to 82 Inmates

October 9, 2025

National Council of State Unanimously Approves Appointment of Professor Amupitan as INEC Chairman

October 9, 2025

Central African Republic become 46th member of AFC

October 8, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIMEAFRICA MAGAZINE biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About TimeAfrica Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 TimeAfrica Magazine - All Right Reserved. TimeAfrica Magazine Ltd is published by Times Associates, registered Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.