Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has faced a setback in her legal battle to prevent potential arrest amidst corruption allegations. The accusations against her stem from alleged solicitation of bribes in exchange for awarding contracts during her tenure as defense minister from 2012 to 2021. Despite vehemently refuting any wrongdoing, her efforts to halt potential legal action have been unsuccessful.
Last week, legal representatives for Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula initiated a court bid seeking an interdict to block her potential arrest, arguing that it would violate her dignity. Additionally, she requested an order compelling the state to disclose the evidence supporting the allegations against her. However, the High Court in Pretoria dismissed her application on Tuesday, ruling that the matter was not urgent and declining to speculate on an arrest that had not yet occurred.
In a separate development last month, an elite police unit conducted a raid on Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula's residence in Johannesburg, acting on behalf of state prosecutors conducting an investigation into the allegations.
Mapisa-Nqakula, a 67-year-old veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, assumed the role of Speaker in 2021. Her legal challenges amid these corruption allegations highlight the ongoing scrutiny facing public officials in South Africa and the complexities surrounding allegations of misconduct within the government.