Parly ethics committee could consider corruption complaint against Mapisa-Nqakula
Mapisa-Nqakula has been accused of receiving over R2 million in tender kickbacks during her tenure as defence minister, prompting the DA and EFF to request the committee probe the allegations.
CAPE TOWN - A corruption complaint against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula could be considered by Parliament’s joint committee on ethics and members’ interests on Monday.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) asked the committee to probe the claims of a Sunday Times article two weeks ago that Mapisa-Nqakula received over R2 million in tender kickbacks during her tenure as minister of defence.
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It’s the first and probably the last time the committee will meet in this parliamentary term, making it unlikely the matter will receive much attention.
Earlier in March, some opposition parties complained to the house chairperson that the ethics committee only met six times in 2023.
As a committee that only meets behind closed doors, it still has unresolved cases from the previous Parliament before it, as meetings also often collapse due to non-attendance.
Corruption allegations against Mapisa-Nqakula are the latest complaint to be submitted to it.
The allegations were put before Parliament’s defence committee two years ago but were not investigated over questions regarding the source of the claims.
Mapisa-Nqakula is also facing a complaint before Parliament’s powers and privileges committee regarding the salary hike for the secretary to Parliament.
It’s unlikely either of these cases will advance significantly before the house rises at the end of March.
Mapisa-Nqakula also does not appear on the African National Congress’ candidate lists to return to Parliament after the elections, which would render the investigations being continued by the seventh administration moot.