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| Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula: South Africa parliament speaker charged with 12 counts of corruption | Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula: South Africa parliament speaker charged with 12 counts of corruption |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, 67, is a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle | Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, 67, is a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle |
| Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, 67, is a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle | |
| South Africa's ex-Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been charged with 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. | South Africa's ex-Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been charged with 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. |
| She made her first court appearance after handing herself over to a police station on Thursday morning. | She made her first court appearance after handing herself over to a police station on Thursday morning. |
| The politician is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts during her time as defence minister. | The politician is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts during her time as defence minister. |
| She denied any wrongdoing in court and said: "I do not have a propensity to commit crime." | She denied any wrongdoing in court and said: "I do not have a propensity to commit crime." |
| But prosecutor Bheki Manyathi told Pretoria Magistrates' Court there was "ample evidence" against Ms Mapisa-Nqakula. | But prosecutor Bheki Manyathi told Pretoria Magistrates' Court there was "ample evidence" against Ms Mapisa-Nqakula. |
| She has been released on bail. | She has been released on bail. |
| After weeks of investigations, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday, but said this wasn't an "indication or admission of guilt". | After weeks of investigations, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday, but said this wasn't an "indication or admission of guilt". |
| She said given the "seriousness" of the probe she could not continue her role. | She said given the "seriousness" of the probe she could not continue her role. |
| President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that Ms Mapisa-Nqakula should be commended for taking the decision to resign. | President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that Ms Mapisa-Nqakula should be commended for taking the decision to resign. |
| "We should recognise that her level of integrity for our democracy has made her do this," he said. | "We should recognise that her level of integrity for our democracy has made her do this," he said. |
| Last month a special police unit raided her Johannesburg home in connection with the corruption investigation. | Last month a special police unit raided her Johannesburg home in connection with the corruption investigation. |
| The 67-year-old veteran of the African National Congress (ANC) party became speaker in 2021. Before that, she served as defence minister for seven years. | The 67-year-old veteran of the African National Congress (ANC) party became speaker in 2021. Before that, she served as defence minister for seven years. |
| Last week, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyers filed a request for a court order to prevent her arrest, saying it would infringe on her dignity. | Last week, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyers filed a request for a court order to prevent her arrest, saying it would infringe on her dignity. |
| On Tuesday, judges rejected her bid on the basis that the matter was not urgent and they could not speculate on an arrest that was yet to happen. | On Tuesday, judges rejected her bid on the basis that the matter was not urgent and they could not speculate on an arrest that was yet to happen. |
| Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of making 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. | Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of making 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. |
| This is the latest in a long line of corruption scandals to engulf the ANC. | This is the latest in a long line of corruption scandals to engulf the ANC. |
| What's unusual about the case is the relative speed with which Ms Mapisa-Nqakula resigned. | What's unusual about the case is the relative speed with which Ms Mapisa-Nqakula resigned. |
| Her decision to stand down is likely to have triggered relief in some ANC circles as she has relieved the party of having to publicly defend her. | Her decision to stand down is likely to have triggered relief in some ANC circles as she has relieved the party of having to publicly defend her. |
| The ANC has officially commended her decision, saying the party valued her commitment to maintaining the image of the organisation. | The ANC has officially commended her decision, saying the party valued her commitment to maintaining the image of the organisation. |
| The case against the former speaker is at best embarrassing, at worst deeply damaging for the ANC. | The case against the former speaker is at best embarrassing, at worst deeply damaging for the ANC. |
| Polls predict the party faces a bruising election at the end of May with some projections suggesting it could lose its majority for the first time. | Polls predict the party faces a bruising election at the end of May with some projections suggesting it could lose its majority for the first time. |
| The ANC, which has been in power since 1994, has faced repeated allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds, which have become a key election issue. | The ANC, which has been in power since 1994, has faced repeated allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds, which have become a key election issue. |
| More South Africa stories from the BBC: | More South Africa stories from the BBC: |
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| ‘You see skeletons’ - South Africa's deadly border | |
| What you need to know about South Africa's elections | What you need to know about South Africa's elections |
| What you need to know about South Africa's elections | |
| South African footballer shot dead in car hijacking | South African footballer shot dead in car hijacking |
| South African footballer shot dead in car hijacking | |
| South Africa's deadly love affair with guns | South Africa's deadly love affair with guns |
| South Africa's deadly love affair with guns | |
| Gen Z’s 'love-hate' relationship with Mandela | |
| Gen Z’s 'love-hate' relationship with Mandela | Gen Z’s 'love-hate' relationship with Mandela |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Corruption | Corruption |
| South Africa | South Africa |