South Africa: former president of the National Assembly indicted for corruption and money laundering
In South Africa, the former President of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, presented this April 4, 2024 to a court in the capital Pretoria, was indicted for corruption and money laundering following her arrest earlier in the morning. “
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula faces twelve counts of corruption and one count of money laundering
,” South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) representative Bheki Manyathi told the court.
Former South African Defense Minister and former Speaker of the National Assembly Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula appearing in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court to face corruption-related charges, in Pretoria, South Africa, April 4, 2024. REUTERS - Alet Pretorius
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Romain Chanson
Troubles are piling up in
South Africa
for the woman who is now the former president of the National Assembly. Accused of corruption and money laundering, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula resigned from her position on April 3, 2024. This figure from the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party, is suspected of having received bribes to award military contracts. This Thursday morning, she was presented to a prosecutor who detailed the charges.
These have accumulated against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula: twelve for corruption and one for money laundering. She is accused of having asked for more than 200,000 euros in bribes and of having obtained half of them when she was Minister of Defense. In exchange for this money, a businesswoman obtained subcontracting contracts with the South African army, between 2016 and 2019.
This witness is central: she is being prosecuted for fraud but she also agreed to collaborate with the investigators. Which makes the defense say that the case only relies on one witness.
Released on bail
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyers denounce a thin file, with a search which would have yielded nothing. “
Don’t go into that
,” said the prosecutor’s representative, who claims to have a very solid case and who points out that the defense has not yet consulted him.
Despite the seriousness of the accusations, the former president of the National Assembly was released on bail. She is not a flight risk and says she wants to go to trial. “
I have nothing to hide
,” assures the woman who now presents herself as a modest retiree.
Read also South Africa: the President of the National Assembly resigns
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