Parliament dismisses reports Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over to police

Following reports that National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over at the Pretoria Central Police Station on Friday morning, parliament says the arrest never happened.

This comes after Mapisa-Nqakula took special leave from her position amid the ongoing investigation into corruption allegations against her.

“Given the seriousness of the allegations and the attendant extensive media speculation, I have decided to take special leave from my position as Speaker of the National Assembly, effective immediately. This decision has been communicated to the Secretary of Parliament and to the President of the Republic in his capacity as Head of State,” said Mapisa-Nqakula on Thursday.

Mapisa-Nqakula said she also communicated her decision to take special leave to the African National Congress (ANC).

Arrest

United Democratic Movement (UDM)’s Bantu Holomisa on Friday morning took to social media claiming Mapisa-Nqakula had handed herself over to the police, a claim parliament has since dismissed.

“The Speaker has finally been arrested. She is inside the Pretoria Police Station. At 9am she will appear in the Criminal Court,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

However, parliament said no arrest had been made.

“We can confirm that the Speaker and her family are at home and that she has had no interaction with the NPA ID since the search-and-seizure operation at her house on Tuesday, the 19th of March 2024,” said parliament.

“The Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says she is shocked by the news of her arrest and has raised serious concerns about the continued trial-by-media tactics.

“The news seem to have even sparked by an X account post by the Leader of the UDM, Mr Bantu Holomisa early hours of this morning.

“Parliament says the Speaker remains on Special Leave from her official duties as she prepares to defend herself against these allegations and flagrant tarnishing of her reputation with impunity.”

The Speaker has finally been arrested . She is inside the Pretoria Police Station. At 9am she will appear in the Criminal Court.

— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) March 22, 2024

The Citizen spoke to police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo. His comments will be added to the story once received.

[BREAKING NEWS] National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has handed herself over at the Pretoria Central Police Station and will appear in court at 9AM.

Tune into #Newzroom405 for more details. pic.twitter.com/NXMHiKDIEy

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 22, 2024

ALSO READ: Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula takes special leave amid corruption probe

Interdict

According to News24, hours after announcing that she was taking special leave, Mapisa-Nqakula launched an urgent bid to interdict law enforcement authorities from arresting her on corruption charges – and claims there is “no case”” against her.

“I am a senior person and the respondents rushing me into a police cell for reasons other than that I am a flight risk, is a threat to my health and life,” she stated in court papers, where she reiterates that she is “innocent of the charges sought to be levelled against me,” she said in an application filed in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday.

Corruption

The heat has been on the Speaker after the Hawks, acting on behalf of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) Investigative Directorate (ID) raided her home in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The Hawks‘ raid follows an investigation into allegations that Mapisa-Nqakula received and solicited at least R2.3 million in cash from a former military contractor during her tenure as defence minister.

ALSO READ: Mapisa-Nqakula set to lead delegation to Switzerland amid corruption probe

The accusations against the Speaker were reportedly made in a sworn affidavit submitted to the Investigative Directorate by Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the owner of Umkhombe Marine.

The freight and logistics company allegedly scored R210 million in Sandf tenders in 2019, and the businesswoman was married to the military health services’ deputy surgeon-general, Noel Ndhlovu.

This article has been updated with a statement from parliament dismissing earlier reports that she had handed herself over to the police.