Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula resigned from her position on Wednesday as her imminent arrest becomes apparent.
On Tuesday Mapisa-Nqakula lost her bid in the Pretoria High Court to interdict the police and the NPA from arresting her on several counts of corruption involving millions of rand.
These corruption accusations date back to her tenure as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans between 2017 and 2019.
The police and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) allege that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited bribes from a company that was contracted to provide services to the South African National Defence Force, of which Mapisa-Nqakula was Minister at the time.
In her resignation letter, Mapisa Nqakula wrote that her quitting her position must not be construed as an admission or indication of guilt on her part.
“I have made this conscious decision in order to dedicate my time and focus on the recently announced investigation against me by our country’s law-enforcement agencies,” wrote Mapisa-Nqakula.
“I believe that at the right time, I will have the opportunity to thoroughly address these allegations as and when they are formally brought against me in appropriate forums, at which I will clear my name,” said Mapisa-Nqakula.
Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) has welcomed Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation.
“It is always a win for the country and her democracy when those in power succumb to pressure which seeks to correct ills and bring stability to Azania and her people,” said Azapo’s national spokesperson Jabu Rakwena in a media statement sent to Tshwane Talks on Wednesday.
“The news of Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation affirm our consistent call for wrongs to be corrected no matter who commits them,” said Rakwena.
“Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation is long overdue as it was clear all along that she was playing for time while abusing court processes to evade arrest,” read a statement released by Rise Mzansi.
“All along she has been figuring out her next move, but justice must take its natural course now,” read the statement.
“The ongoing saga reaffirms Rise Mzansi’s call for new and ethical leaders who work with and for the people as opposed to the political establishment which places its interests above all else,” concluded the statement.
The following is the letter of resignation as written verbatim by Mapisa-Nqakula to acting speaker of the National Assembly Lechesa Tsenoli on Wednesday.
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