South Africa’s former Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, faces accusations of 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.
She appeared in court for the first time after voluntarily presenting herself at a police station on Thursday morning.
The politician stands accused of allegedly soliciting bribes in exchange for awarding contracts during her tenure as defence minister.
In court, she refuted the allegations, asserting, “I do not have a propensity to commit crime.” However, prosecutor Bheki Manyathi informed the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court that there was “ample evidence” against Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula.
She has been granted bail.
Following weeks of investigation, Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday, stating that it was not an “indication or admission of guilt.” She cited the “seriousness” of the probe as the reason for stepping down from her role.
In connection with the corruption inquiry, a special police unit raided her Johannesburg residence last month.
The 67-year-old, a veteran of the anti-apartheid movement, assumed the role of speaker in 2021 after serving as defence minister for seven years.
Last week, her legal team filed a request for a court order to prevent her arrest, arguing that it would infringe on her dignity. However, judges rejected her plea, citing lack of urgency and the inability to speculate on an impending arrest.
Ms. Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of allegedly making multiple demands for money, totaling $120,000 (£96,000), from a company owner to secure a contract for transporting army equipment back to South Africa from other parts of the continent, as reported by Business Day newspaper.
Her resignation comes ahead of next month’s general election, which some believe could pose challenges for the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The party, which has been in power since 1994, has faced repeated allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds, which have become a key election issue.