The storm of corruption allegations swirling around Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has shaken the ANC to its core like lightning striking a once mighty tree. The party’s foundation is now cracked, teetering on the edge of a cliff as the looming shadow of doubt darkens its path. The very essence of democracy is at risk of being washed away by this torrential downpour of misconduct, leaving only a parched wasteland of distrust behind. Only by planting seeds of accountability and nurturing them with firm action can we hope to see the green shoots of public trust rise once again from the scorched earth.
By Themba Khumalo
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, like a falling star shooting across the night sky, resigned as the Speaker of the National Assembly on Wednesday only to be caught in the jaws of justice on Thursday, like a fish caught in a net, accused of taking bribes during her time as defence minister.
Her arrest was like a volcanic eruption after weeks of building pressure on law enforcement officials. This corruption case hit the ANC like a thunderbolt, just before a crucial national election.
With a long history of activism against the apartheid regime as an ANC member, she emphasised in her statement that her resignation should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt to the allegations made against her. She explained that her decision was motivated by a desire to maintain the integrity and sanctity of Parliament. She also cited the protection of the party’s reputation as a motivating factor behind her decision to step down.
Her arrest has brought to light one of the party’s significant vulnerabilities, namely allegations of corruption. As voters prepare to cast their ballots on May 29, concerns about transparency and ethical leadership within the ANC have remained at the forefront of public discourse since the end of apartheid three decades ago.
ANC officials have faced multiple allegations of corruption, leading to public outcry as the country and a substantial portion of its citizens contend with economic difficulties. Mapisa-Nqakula is notable among the senior ANC members accused of criminal misconduct.
Mapisa-Nqakula, a 67-year-old long-standing member of the ANC, served as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans in South Africa from 2014 to 2021. During that period, she came under severe criticism for being perceived as ineffective in addressing riots that resulted in the deaths of over 300 people.
The riots were characterised by President Cyril Ramaphosa as an insurrection. However, Mapisa-Nqakula publicly contested this description, leading to her removal from the ministerial position and subsequent appointment as the National Assembly speaker.
She has asserted that the current allegations against her are politically driven, aimed at damaging her reputation and that of the ANC during the election period. The accusations involve claims that she solicited over R4 million in bribes from a defence contractor in exchange for contract awards between 2016 and 2019. The contractor, who was arrested in 2021, has made a deal with the Investigating Directorate, a division of the National Prosecuting Authority, to cooperate as a state witness.
Following a police search of her residence, she sought an unusual court order requesting prosecutors to disclose their evidence before her arrest, expressing doubts about the strength of their case.
In a legal affidavit contesting her impending arrest, she accused prosecutors of politicising their authority, drawing parallels to practices from the apartheid era. She raised concerns that such actions could undermine the constitutional principles of South Africa’s evolving democracy.
However, Justice Sulet Potterill dismissed her attempts to halt her arrest, cautioning that granting such requests based on speculative claims of a weak case could establish a precedent allowing any suspect to seek similar legal interventions.