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Speaker’s corruption case to be heard in court Monday

Corruption-accused Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s bid to avoid arrest will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Monday.

Mapisa-Nqakula approached the courts to prevent any possible arrest for alleged corruption and bribery dating back to when she was Minister of Defence.

NPA TO OPPOSE THE APPLICATION, SAYS ITS BASELESS

On Sunday, the Independent Online reported that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the application will be heard in the high court on an urgent basis.

“She is seeking an order interdicting NPA’s ID from arresting her. The NPA’s ID will oppose the application as we believe it is baseless and has no merit,” said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga. He said the NPA would oppose the application as it was baseless.

Political parties have called for Mapisa-Nqakula to step down, while the Democratic Alliance (DA) submitted a formal motion of no confidence against the Speaker.

DA) Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said that Mapisa-Nqankula should have resigned instead of taking special leave.

“This special leave is nothing more than a cop-out,” and the party’s no-confidence motion in Mapisa-Nqakula must be debated and decided before the National Assembly rises on 28 March,” she said.

PARTIES CALL FOR SPEAKER TO RESIGN

“The rules of Parliament do not make provision for ‘special leave’ taken by a member by a unilateral decision. A special leave is only granted by a full sitting of the House through a motion,” Gwarube said.

“Anything less than that will be a mockery of Parliament and, more importantly, South Africa,” she said.

“Alternatively, a member may be granted 5 days of special leave with approval from their political party. Based on the communication of the ANC last night, it would seem this is not the case,” explained Gwarube.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the law must be allowed to take its course. He said that the Speaker was cooperating with law enforcement agencies.

“They raided her House. She hasn’t been charged yet, and she has said that she will take special leave, and there is a process that is unfolding,” said Ramaphosa.

BALEKA MBETE DEFENDS SPEAKER

Former National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete has defended Mapisa-Nqakula against the allegations of corruption leveled against her.

She says those who accuse Mapisa-Nqakula do not have concrete evidence to prove any wrongdoing by the Speaker. Mbete says there’s a vendetta to discredit Mapisa-Nqakula.

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