A pivotal court ruling dismissed Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula‘s attempt to interdict her arrest, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the National Assembly Speaker.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula arrest interdict denied
The Pretoria High Court’s decision marks a significant juncture in Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s career.
Judge Sulet Potterill declared that the court lacks the authority to prevent an arrest that has not yet occurred, effectively denying Mapisa-Nqakula’s plea.
This ruling not only impacts her immediate legal standing but also places her under a magnifying glass, with her arrest all but likely at this juncture.
In a dramatic move following the Hawks’ raid on her Pretoria property last week, Mapisa-Nqakula sought judicial intervention to forestall potential arrest by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Filed amid accusations of her involvement in bribery schemes, the application represented a desperate effort to maintain her political and personal integrity.
The allegations accuse her of accepting bribes totalling millions from contractor Nombasa Ndhlovu, purportedly in exchange for favourable treatment in defence procurement.
The heart of the legal battle lies in the NPA’s investigation, detailing how Mapisa-Nqakula, during her tenure as Defence Minister, allegedly received bribes from Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019.
Transactions detailed in the NPA’s affidavit include a range of payments made in various locations, culminating in allegations that Mapisa-Nqakula benefitted from illicit funds and luxury items, such as a high-priced wig, to the tune of R4,550,000.
Mapisa-Nqakula motion of no-confidence looms
The unfolding legal drama dovetails with escalating political challenges for Mapisa-Nqakula.
The motion of no-confidence against disgraced National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will go ahead after her deputy, Lechasa Tsenoli, approved the Democratic Alliance’s urgent filing.
The former Defence Minister will have her day in Parliament, with her peers and opposition faced with the decision to unequivocally remove her from her position.
In a statement addressing the DA’s Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube, Tsenoli confirmed the motion was accepted “as being substantively in order, except for minor technical adjustments.”
“The draft resolution will be placed on the Order Paper under ‘Further Business’, as a Notice of Motion,” Tsenoli explained.
Before dates are finalised, Parliament’s Acting Speaker will consult with the ANC’s Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina.
In a statement, Gwarube confirmed “the motion will now be considered by the House in due course.”
“The motion will now be considered by the House in due course. The rules of the National Assembly are clear. The motion to remove a Speaker or the Deputy Speaker must be considered urgently. Considering that this Parliament remains competent until May, there is no reason why a special sitting of Parliament should not be called as early as next week to consider this important motion,” she explained.