Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of Police Bheki Cele. File Picture: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the embattled Speaker of Parliament, has filed an application for an urgent high court interdict against arrest by the South African Police Service amid an ongoing corruption investigation. The former Minister of Defence from 2012 to 2021 is accused of receiving millions of rand in cash as bribes from a military contractor during her term. Mapisa-Nqakula has denied any wrongdoing and is seeking an order to interdict five respondents, including National Director of Public Prosecutions, advocate Shamila Batohi, and Minister of Police Bheki Cele, from instituting an arrest against her.
Mapisa-Nqakula expressed her willingness to cooperate with law enforcement agencies if they need to arrest her for the alleged corruption. She stated that she had not received formal communication from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) about the arrest but would cooperate with the authorities. She also took a leave of absence as Speaker and informed Secretary to Parliament Xolile George and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Speaker's arrest was highly anticipated following a raid at her house in Johannesburg early on Tuesday. Despite no formal notification of an arrest warrant or communication regarding an imminent arrest, Mapisa-Nqakula has informed her lawyers of her readiness to comply and cooperate should the need arise. She has also decided to take special leave to protect the integrity of Parliament.
