Mapisa-Nqakula arrives at police station to hand herself over

She resigned from her position in the legislature on Wednesday after the High Court in Pretoria dismissed her urgent appeal to prevent her arrest on corruption charges. 

During her tenure as Defence minister, Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly received 2.3-million-rand in bribes and gratifications from a defence contractor. 

She has denied the allegations.

In her resignation letter, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said she decided to step down with immediate effect to uphold the integrity of parliament and focus on the investigation against her.

"Given the seriousness of the much-publicised allegations against me, I cannot continue in this role," she wrote.

The ANC praised Mapisa-Nqakula for protecting its reputation by stepping aside before being asked to do so.

"We value her commitment to maintaining the image of our organisation," the party said.

But in her letter, the 67-year-old insisted her decision was in "no way an indication or admission of guilt".

"I maintain my innocence and am determined to restore my good reputation," she wrote.

Parliament said the speaker would be replaced by her deputy, Lechesa Tsenoli.

Mapisa-Nqakula served as defence minister between 2014 and 2021 before being appointed speaker in a move that drew much criticism from the opposition.

At the time, she had come under fire for perceived incompetence in responding to a spate of deadly unrest that saw more than 300 people killed.

She is the latest in a string of senior ANC politicians, including the president and vice president, to be embroiled in graft scandals.

South Africans head to the polls in national and provincial elections on May 29.

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