Opposition parties call for Mapisa-Nqakula’s head after NPA raid
Opposition parties in Parliament on Tuesday intensified their call for National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to step aside amid bribery allegations.
The NPA's Investigating Directorate conducted a five-hour-long search and seizure operation at Mapisa-Nqakula's Johannesburg home on Tuesday.
The raid is linked to alleged corruption during her tenure as minister of defence and military veterans.
A well-known defence industry businesswoman claims she paid bribes totalling some R2 million to Mapisa-Nqakula during her time as minister.
DA leader John Steenhuisen accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of being party responsible for the events due to the lack of lifestyle audits on members of the executive.
"Your failure to implement lifestyle audits is what has facilitated this alleged corruption by the Speaker, Mr President, since you are the reason that lifestyle audits were not done,” Steenhuisen told the president during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
READ: Lifestyle audits of executive underway - Ramaphosa
Steenhuisen said Parliament is being used to shield senior ANC members implicated in corruption.
"It is unprecedented for a raid on a Speaker's house to take place, and there is no accountability thereafter. I think the people need to know where the president stands on somebody he appointed initially as the minister of defence, who is now the speaker who's now under this cloud of suspicion".
At the same time, the Freedom Front Plus said Mapisa-Nqakula must act in the interest of Parliament and step aside.
FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald believes Mapisa-Nqakula’s continued presence would impact the integrity of Parliament.
"She should now step aside until this investigation is completed because her integrity is now under investigation, and that reflects on Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Congress of the People called for Mapisa-Nqakula to resign.
Cope’s Erick Mohlapamaswi warned the party would table a motion of no confidence against her within a week if she fails to resign.
Mohlapamaswi said Parliament cannot be led by individuals who lack integrity.
