Opposition parties up the ante for Mapisa-Nqakula removal amid corruption allegations

CAPE TOWN - Opposition parties are upping the ante for the removal of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula amid corruption allegations against her.

While the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday called on the National Assembly to act swiftly, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it was not necessary to first wait for a parliamentary investigation.

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Both parties lodged complaints against Mapisa-Nqakula with Parliament's ethics committee.

The Sunday Times reported that the speaker received kickbacks of over R2 million during her tenure as the minister of defence.

Mapisa-Nqakula was not present during Tuesday’s session when the DA and EFF called on the house to act because she’s currently in Paris attending a women speakers’ summit.

In a member’s statement to the house, DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said it was concerning that the latest allegations emerged while Mapisa-Nqakula was already facing an ethics complaint related to a secret salary hike for the secretary to Parliament.

“We can’t have a situation where the leader of an institution has these kinds of allegations hanging over their head, and that is why the ethics committee must investigate this thoroughly.”

The EFF’s Laeticia Allies took it one step further.

“We should take a stand and as the National Assembly convene all party leaders and chief whips and agree to move an urgent resolution to remove her.”

However, African National Congress members of Parliament appeared unmoved by their appeals.