Cloud of uncertainty around Mapisa-Nqakula's future amid corruption allegations

CAPE TOWN - After 30 years in Parliament, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s future hangs in the balance.

Her name was left off the African National Congress (ANC)’s national list submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa on Friday, following the storm of corruption allegations swirling around over the past week.

In a television interview last month, Mapisa-Nqakula announced plans to retire from active politics after the May polls.

But it’s unclear at this stage if she declined a nomination from the party to return to Parliament. 

Her office has since refused to be drawn to comment about her future to Eyewitness News.

It's alleged she abused her power to unilaterally hike the salary of the secretary to Parliament. 

She's also accused of breaching the ethics code in connection with bribery claims during her tenure as defence minister. 

Since 1994, Mapisa-Nqakula has always been included on the ANC’s election list.

Unlike other parliamentary veterans who indicated ahead of the ANC’s interview process that they would be retiring, Mapisa-Nqakula has not. 

READ: Claims of cash bribes paid to Mapisa-Nqakula should be speedily probed - Holomisa

Other parliamentary presiding officers who do not appear on the ANC's national list include deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli and house chairpersons Cedric Frolick, Grace Boroto and Madala Ntombela. 

National Council of Provinces chairperson Amos Masondo also does not appear on the national list, although like the other omissions, could still be included in the provincial lists. 

Mapisa-Nqakula's spokesperson Mike Ramagoma said it was for the ANC, and not Mapisa-Nqakula to explain her exclusion from the list.

She could however still be nominated for Parliament on the so-called province to national list, representing the Eastern Cape. 

The IEC is set to officially make these lists public on 26 March.