South African Parliamentary Speaker Faces Corruption Charges

Prosecutors intend to charge Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with corruption for allegedly accepting $135,000 and a wig in bribes.

South African prosecutors plan to charge Parliament speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with corruption, alleging she accepted $135,000 and a wig in bribes over three years.
Mapisa-Nqakula, accused of taking bribes while serving as defense minister, has not been arrested or charged but could face a court ruling on a stay of arrest.
Prosecutors claim Mapisa-Nqakula received 11 payments totaling $135,000 from December 2016 to July 2019, and sought an additional bribe of $105,000 that was not paid.
Mapisa-Nqakula has denied the allegations, stating she will cooperate with authorities after her home was searched and evidence seized.
The case is part of a wider graft scandal involving the ruling African National Congress party, ahead of a pivotal national election on May 29.