In the most recent controversy involving corruption to affect the ruling African National Congress party, the former speaker of parliament for South Africa was taken into custody on Thursday due to claims that she accepted payments totaling roughly $135,000.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula surrendered herself to police on Thursday in the nation’s capital of Pretoria.
She was brought to the Pretoria Magistrates Court and later freed on a 50,000 rand ($2,670) bond.
Mapisa-Nqakula insisted on her innocence and contended that the accusations against her were brought about for political reasons because the nation is scheduled to host national elections later this yea
The news comes after weeks of controversy around claims that Mapisa-Nqakula, the minister of defence from 2016 to 2019, received eleven cash payments from a defence contractor.
After police raided her home in Johannesburg, she was told the state planned to charge her on twelve counts of money laundering and corruption.
Days after her legal attempt to prevent her arrest was unsuccessful, she announced her resignation as speaker of parliament and as a politician.
She said in court on Thursday that she was not a flight risk and that skipping her trial would cost her a lot, including her state pension and her ability to see her children who live in Johannesburg.
The bail request made by Mapisa-Nqakula was not contested by the prosecution.
The case has been rescheduled for June 4th with prosecutors planning to add another defendant.
