DA accuses Parly of shielding Ramaphosa from being answerable for corruption allegations against Speaker

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused Parliament of protecting President Cyril Ramaphosa from answering questions on corruption allegations against Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

The National Prosecuting Authority raided Mapisa-Nqakula's house on Tuesday, in connection with allegations that she received kickbacks during her tenure as defence minister in Ramaphosa's cabinet.

But the president chose not to respond to questions on the matter when asked by DA leader John Steenhuisen during Tuesday's question-and-answer session.

Upon the advice of the house chairperson Cedric Frolick that question was not submitted beforehand.

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Thereafter, Steenhuisen said that Parliament was protecting Ramaphosa.

"The DA is incredibly disappointed that, once again, Parliament is being used as an instrument to protect the president from answering tough questions about his caucus and being able to hold the speaker accountable."

Steenhuisen said it was unprecedented for a raid on a speaker's house to take place, and there's no accountability thereafter.

Had lifestyle audits been in place for Cabinet ministers, he said, the alleged corruption could have been avoided.