Corruption-accused former speaker Mapisa-Nqakula gets bail

[Nat Quinn]

Corruption-accused former speaker Mapisa-Nqakula gets bail

Embattled former speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, was granted bail by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, following charges for corruption and money laundering.

Magistrate Anna Oosthuizen said her bail was set at R50 000 after the state had asked for it to be set at R100 000.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 charges of corruption and 1 for money laundering, Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of receiving more than R2.3 million in kickbacks from defence contractor Umkhombe Marine‘s CEO Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu , during her period as South Africa’s defence minister.

Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over at the Lyttelton police station following her resignation as Speaker National Assembly, saying she wanted to focus on the ongoing investigation against her.

Some of her bail conditions include that she hands over her passport to state by no later than by 8 April, she must not apply for a new passport or communicate directly with witnesses pending the finalisation of the matter.

MAPISA-NQAKULA HANDS HERSELF OVER TO POLICE

The former Speaker said that her resignation was not an admission of guilt, but an act in the interest of justice. This follows weeks of speculation of her impending arrest.

At the time of her resignation on Wednesday, Mapisa-Nqakula faced at least two separate internal probes from two parliamentary committees – one related to the alleged corruption she was being charged with on Thursday.

Her lawyer said Mapisa-Nqakula was not a flight risk, and she had no intentions of skipping the country; her husband, former minister of safety and security Charles Nqakula, two sons, and four grandchildren were all in the country.

‘NO REASON WHY I SHOULD NOT GET BAIL’

She said there was no reason she should not be granted bail because the state’s case against her did not meet the legal threshold to infringe on her human rights.

Mapisa-Nqakula said she would always make herself available during the trial because she was not opposed to justice. The African National Congress (ANC) veteran, who hails from the Eastern Cape, said she’s been part of the ruling party since the 1980s.

She is a seasoned legislator who brings a wealth of experience to the position – having been a Member of Parliament from 1999 and has held various positions, including being the chief whip of the ANC in 2001 and Chairperson of the Joint Standing on Intelligence and Defence.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says Mapisa Nqakula still needs to answer for unilaterally hiking the salary of the secretary of Parliament without MPs’ knowledge. She is accused of approving a 70% increase in the salary of secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, without consultation.

Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation is the first from a National Assembly Speaker in the past 30 years..

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