South Africa’s parliament speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has resigned, according to a statement released by her party, the African National Congress (ANC), on Wednesday.
This follows weeks of scrutiny after a raid on her home by investigators probing corruption allegations.
Mapisa-Nqakula, who served as defense minister between 2014 and 2021, is accused of accepting bribes from a former military contractor during her tenure.
The ANC acknowledged receipt of her resignation letter and commended her decision to step down “to maintain the image” of the party in the face of the ongoing investigation.
This development comes just ahead of national elections scheduled for May 29th.
The case against Mapisa-Nqakula adds to the challenges faced by the ANC, which is already grappling with a weak economy and public discontent over alleged government corruption and mismanagement.
Polls suggest the ANC’s share of the vote could fall below 50% for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.
This could force the party to form a coalition government to retain power.
