In the urgent application submitted by Speaker of the Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, a reserved verdict has been issued. It is anticipated that the Pretoria High Court will rule on Tuesday, April 2.
In an ongoing investigation into graft allegations linked to suspicions that she solicited and accepted bribes totaling more than R2 million while serving as the Minister of Defense and Military Veterans, Mapisa-Nqakula is attempting to interdict the state from detaining her.
This follows a raid on her Johannesburg home last week by the Investigating Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The Speaker’s urgent court petition is being represented by Makhosi Gwala, who informed the court on Monday afternoon that the State never expressed a desire to have the Speaker arrested—rather, they merely requested that she speak with investigators.
“There is nothing that was ever said to the fact that we want to arrest your client, all that was said was to bring your client.”
The state has been charged by the defense of violating the law and misusing its power in the Speaker’s pursuit.
The State promised not to detain the Speaker until the verdict was rendered the following week. Nevertheless, it contended that caving in to Mapisa-Nqakula’s requests would create a risky precedent that would allow suspects in any criminal case to control how the state prosecutes them.
Gwala contended that, in accordance with section 35 of the Constitution, an individual has the right to file a lawsuit as soon as they are accused.
Leave a Reply