Update: Aliyekuwa Spika wa Bunge la Afrika Kusini Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (67) amejisalimisha kwa Polisi ambapo anatarajiwa kufikishwa Mahakamani siku moja baada ya kujiuzulu Nafasi ya Uspika pamoja na Kiti cha Ubunge kutokana na tuhuma za ufisadi
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Spika wa bunge la Afrika Kusini alijiuzulu siku ya Jumatano na kuachia kiti chake cha ubunge kwa madai ya ufisadi, siku moja baada ya kushindwa katika kesi yake mahakamani ambayo aliomba polisi wazuiwe wasimtie mbaroni.
Spika Ms Mapisa-Nqakula amekuwa akijaribu kutumia haki yake ya kikatiba kuishawishi mahakama lakini imeshindikana
Spika wa Bunge la Kitaifa Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula anasema amewasilisha barua ya kujiuzulu kama spika na mbunge mara moja.
"Nimefanya uamuzi huu makini wa kujitolea muda na umakini wangu kushughulikia uchunguzi uliotangazwa hivi karibuni dhidi yangu na vyombo vya sheria vya nchi yetu," Mapisa-Nqakula alisema Jumatano.
Alisema kujiuzulu kwake sio dalili yoyote au kukubali hatia kuhusiana na tuhuma zinazotolewa dhidi yake.
"Nimefanya uamuzi huu ili kudumisha uadilifu na utakatifu wa bunge letu, taasisi kuu ya mfumo wetu wa serikali, inayowakilisha watu wa Afrika Kusini kwa ujumla."
Alisema nafasi ya spika ni muhimu katika ujenzi na maendeleo ya nchi.
“Kutokana na uzito wa tuhuma zinazotangazwa sana dhidi yangu, siwezi kuendelea na jukumu hili.
"Kama mbunge mkuu wa nchi, nina jukumu kuu la kulinda na kuhifadhi uadilifu wa bunge kwa kuhakikisha kwamba matendo yangu yanahakikisha kwamba kazi yake takatifu lazima iendelee bila dosari."
TimesLIVE
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South Africa’s parliament speaker resigned on Wednesday and relinquished her seat in the legislature over allegations of corruption, a day after she lost a bid in court that would block her arrest.
Prosecutors last week said they intend to charge Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with corruption, accusing her of receiving about $135 000 in bribes from a defense contractor during her three years as defense minister.
She allegedly received the payments between December 2016 and July 2019, while another bribe, amounting to $105,000, was not paid.
Mapisa-Nqakula announced in a statement that she has tendered her resignation but insisted she was innocent of the accusations against her.
“I have made this conscious decision in order to dedicate my time and focus to deal with the recently announced investigation against me by our country's law enforcement agencies,” she said. “My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me.”
Media reports in South Africa allege that on one occasion in February 2019, she received more than $15,000 and a wig at a meeting at the country’s main international airport.
Mapisa-Nqakula's party, the African National Congress, is set to fight a crucial elections this year against the backdrop of high unemployment, rising poverty and anger over various allegations of corruption against its leaders.
Recent polls suggest the party could receive less than 50% of electoral support — the lowest level since it came into power in the country’s first all-race vote at the end of apartheid in 1994.
After Mapisa-Nqakula’s announcement, it remained unclear if she would be taken into custody or surrender to authorities on her own, after the North Gauteng High Court dismissed her motion to avoid arrest.
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UPDATE: South Africa's Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has handed herself over to police a day after she resigned over corruption allegations.
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula arrived at a police station in Centurion, 40km (24 miles) from Johannesburg on Thursday.
She is due to make her first court appearance at Pretoria Magistrate's Court on charges of corruption.
The politician is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts during her time as defence minister.
After weeks of investigations, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday, saying the move wasn't an "indication or admission of guilt".
She said given the "seriousness" of the probe she could not continue her role.
She has previously denied any wrongdoing. Last month a special police unit raided her Johannesburg home in connection with the corruption investigation.
The 67-year-old veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle became speaker in 2021. Before that, she served as defence minister for seven years.
Source: South Africa's parliament speaker resigns over accusations of bribery
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Spika wa bunge la Afrika Kusini alijiuzulu siku ya Jumatano na kuachia kiti chake cha ubunge kwa madai ya ufisadi, siku moja baada ya kushindwa katika kesi yake mahakamani ambayo aliomba polisi wazuiwe wasimtie mbaroni.
Spika Ms Mapisa-Nqakula amekuwa akijaribu kutumia haki yake ya kikatiba kuishawishi mahakama lakini imeshindikana
Spika wa Bunge la Kitaifa Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula anasema amewasilisha barua ya kujiuzulu kama spika na mbunge mara moja.
"Nimefanya uamuzi huu makini wa kujitolea muda na umakini wangu kushughulikia uchunguzi uliotangazwa hivi karibuni dhidi yangu na vyombo vya sheria vya nchi yetu," Mapisa-Nqakula alisema Jumatano.
Alisema kujiuzulu kwake sio dalili yoyote au kukubali hatia kuhusiana na tuhuma zinazotolewa dhidi yake.
"Nimefanya uamuzi huu ili kudumisha uadilifu na utakatifu wa bunge letu, taasisi kuu ya mfumo wetu wa serikali, inayowakilisha watu wa Afrika Kusini kwa ujumla."
Alisema nafasi ya spika ni muhimu katika ujenzi na maendeleo ya nchi.
“Kutokana na uzito wa tuhuma zinazotangazwa sana dhidi yangu, siwezi kuendelea na jukumu hili.
"Kama mbunge mkuu wa nchi, nina jukumu kuu la kulinda na kuhifadhi uadilifu wa bunge kwa kuhakikisha kwamba matendo yangu yanahakikisha kwamba kazi yake takatifu lazima iendelee bila dosari."
TimesLIVE
--
South Africa’s parliament speaker resigned on Wednesday and relinquished her seat in the legislature over allegations of corruption, a day after she lost a bid in court that would block her arrest.
Prosecutors last week said they intend to charge Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with corruption, accusing her of receiving about $135 000 in bribes from a defense contractor during her three years as defense minister.
She allegedly received the payments between December 2016 and July 2019, while another bribe, amounting to $105,000, was not paid.
Mapisa-Nqakula announced in a statement that she has tendered her resignation but insisted she was innocent of the accusations against her.
“I have made this conscious decision in order to dedicate my time and focus to deal with the recently announced investigation against me by our country's law enforcement agencies,” she said. “My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me.”
Media reports in South Africa allege that on one occasion in February 2019, she received more than $15,000 and a wig at a meeting at the country’s main international airport.
Mapisa-Nqakula's party, the African National Congress, is set to fight a crucial elections this year against the backdrop of high unemployment, rising poverty and anger over various allegations of corruption against its leaders.
Recent polls suggest the party could receive less than 50% of electoral support — the lowest level since it came into power in the country’s first all-race vote at the end of apartheid in 1994.
After Mapisa-Nqakula’s announcement, it remained unclear if she would be taken into custody or surrender to authorities on her own, after the North Gauteng High Court dismissed her motion to avoid arrest.
...........
UPDATE: South Africa's Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has handed herself over to police a day after she resigned over corruption allegations.
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula arrived at a police station in Centurion, 40km (24 miles) from Johannesburg on Thursday.
She is due to make her first court appearance at Pretoria Magistrate's Court on charges of corruption.
The politician is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts during her time as defence minister.
After weeks of investigations, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday, saying the move wasn't an "indication or admission of guilt".
She said given the "seriousness" of the probe she could not continue her role.
She has previously denied any wrongdoing. Last month a special police unit raided her Johannesburg home in connection with the corruption investigation.
The 67-year-old veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle became speaker in 2021. Before that, she served as defence minister for seven years.
Source: South Africa's parliament speaker resigns over accusations of bribery
