Johnathan Paoli
National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has vehemently denied allegations of corruption and bribery to the value of R2 million levelled against her, which surfaced in weekend newspaper reports.
The corruption allegations stem from the seven-year perio when Mapisa-Nqakula was the Minister of Defence. She was redeployed to Parliament after the July 2021 Riots.
In 2020 a South African National Defence Force contractor charged with corruption turned whistleblower and fingered Mapisa-Nqakula in acts of corruption and bribery in exchange for a lighter sentence.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa also put the allegations and complaints before members of Parliament in 2021 but the Minister was never fully investigated due to what they said was lack of evidence.
Mike Ramagoma, the legal advisor to Mapisa-Nqakula who is now Speaker of Parliament said she had only learnt of the allegations through the Sunday press and that he found it highly objectionable that details of the investigation have been shared with the media.
Denying the damning allegations against her, Mapisa-Nqakula has maintained her innocence saying throughout her public service career, she has upheld the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct and has advocated against corruption and that she would fully cooperate with any formal investigations into the allegations, and insists she’s innocent.
The Speaker reaffirmed her commitment to fully cooperate with any formal investigation into these allegations, and said she also remained “steadfast in her conviction of innocence and her dedication to continue serving the public with honour and integrity”.
Parliament said that throughout her public service career, the Speaker has upheld the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct and has fiercely advocated against corruption, which she continued to regard as a direct threat to the principles of democracy and good governance.
INSIDE POLITICS
