The resignation of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the Speaker of the National Assembly and an ANC member of parliament, has been welcomed by a number of opposition parties.
With immediate effect, Mapisa-Nqakula resigned from her two roles in Parliament on Wednesday.
As the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Mapisa-Nqakula is entangled in a court battle after a witness exposed her as the recipient of bribes from a well-known army contractor for more than R2 million.
She claims in a letter to Lechesa Tsenoli, the Acting Speaker, that she must resign from her role as speaker in order to protect the integrity of Parliament due to the gravity of the widely reported corruption accusations against her.
“I have made this decision to uphold the integrity and sanctity of our parliament, an apex institution of our system of government, representing the people of South Africa as a whole,” she stated in her statement.
According to RISE Mzansi, it was evident that Mapisa-Nqakula was merely biding her time and abusing legal procedures to avoid being taken into custody while she considered her options.
“Right now, justice must proceed naturally. This continuing narrative serves as a reminder of RISE Mzansi’s demand for new, moral leaders who serve the interests of the people rather than the political system, which prioritizes its own self-interests.
“In order to ascertain whether the people of South Africa, through the State or other organs of State, will be or has been paying for Mapisa-Nqakula’s legal bills, RISE Mzansi wrote to both the President and the Secretary to Parliament.”
Mkhuleko Hlengwa of the IFP, meantime, asserts that their party maintains that the law must be administered impartially and fearlessly, adding, “We beg the former Speaker to submit herself to the legal processes until their just and reasonable conclusion.”
The IFP has taken note of and applauds Mrs. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation as Speaker of the National Assembly. Mrs. Mapisa-Nqakula made a reasonable decision by deciding to stop dragging Parliament into her legal issues, allowing her to concentrate on her case.
“The National Assembly has work and business to attend to in the remaining weeks of its term of office, which must be done without delay or concession. We appreciate her service and wish her luck in all of her future undertakings.”
Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation has been hailed by the Democratic Alliance’s Siviwe Gwarube as a win for accountability and Parliament.
“And thus, the South African populace. A haven for the worst of us cannot be Parliament. The people chosen to govern and represent South Africa ought to be capable of the job. Ever since she was accused of corruption and money laundering, we have been calling for her resignation.
“We believe that anyone who holds this high office should be beyond reproach; and Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is not suited for it.”
The ANC in power has praised Mapisa-Nqakula for her dedication to upholding the organization’s reputation.
“It reflects our principles of organizational renewal that promote proactive responsibility-taking among members, rather than waiting for instructions to step aside.”
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