ANC Parly caucus agrees Mapisa-Nqakula's resignation not an admission of guilt - Majodina

CAPE TOWN - African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Pemmy Majodina said the party's parliamentary caucus agreed with Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula that her resignation was not an admission of guilt over allegations against her.

In a statement, Majodina said they respected Mapisa-Nqakula's decision to resign in order "to preserve and protect the integrity of Parliament".

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Majodina was reacting to Mapisa-Nqakula's resignation this week to face corruption charges.

The ANC parliamentary caucus said it welcomed Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation as the National Assembly Speaker and a member of Parliament.

Majodina said the ANC Caucus "will forever be grateful" for the role Mapisa-Nqakula played in what she called "her relatively brief tenure". 

She said Mapisa-Nqakula championed the causes of the poor and women at home and in various international forums where she represented South Africa.

Majodina’s statement came as Mapisa-Nqakula made her first court appearance on Thursday to face several corruption charges.

However, Majodina and her political advisor, Luthando Nogcinisa, had not responded to questions on whether the caucus considered calls for the election of a new Speaker before the current term of Parliament ended.