Speaker seeks court bid to avoid arrest

The High Court in Pretoria is set to hear the urgent application of National Assembly
Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula seeking to interdict police from arresting her. Last
week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) conducted a raid at her Johannesburg
home in search of evidence related to alleged corruption. Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of
soliciting an R2.3 million bribe from a contractor during her tenure as Minister of
Defence.

Having transitioned to the role of Speaker in 2021 from her ministerial position, the
NPA’s Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga regards Mapisa-Nqakula’s application as lacking
substance. Mhaga stated the NPA’s investigating directorate will oppose the application
as it is baseless and should be dismissed.

Legal expert Nthabiseng Dubaza suggests that the application filed by Mapisa-
Nqakula’s legal team to obtain the docket related to her case is unlikely to be granted.
The High Court in Pretoria will hear the case today. Mapisa-Nqakula’s legal
representatives submitted an urgent application aiming to prevent her arrest and
acquire all information regarding the charges against her to prepare her defence.

Dubaza remarks that Mapisa-Nqakula’s preemptive move with the application may be
premature. She stated Mapisa-Nqakula ought to have waited to know the exact charge
before acting, as charges can change after review by the Director of Public
Prosecutions.