JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: South Africa’s National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Thursday announced that she would take “special leave” as investigators raided her home as part of a corruption probe and calls for her resignation.
The raids, which comes just over two months before national elections, exacerbates the problems of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which is struggling amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations and the attendant extensive media speculation, I have decided to take special leave… effective immediately,” speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said in a statement.
Investigators searched her home on Tuesday as part of a corruption probe, and she promised to cooperate fully.
Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting a 2.3 million-rand ($121,000) bribe from a former military contractor while serving as defence minister from 2014 to 2021 before being appointed Speaker.
South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), called for his resignation on Tuesday.
The ruling party in a statement said that the ANC will enforce its integrity and “step aside” policies based on the facts as they arise.
The “step aside” policy is an internal party law that requires members to voluntarily resign from their positions if they are accused of corruption.
The country will vote on May 29.
The ANC is expected to win less than 50 percent of the vote for the first time since democracy was introduced in 1994.
As a result, they may be forced to form coalitions to maintain power.
Mapisa-Nqakula denies any wrongdoing.
