South Africa’s Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has resigned from her position after her home was raided during a corruption investigation.
Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for awarding contracts while serving as defence minister.
She has denied the charges.
“My resignation is in no way an indication or admission of guilt regarding the allegations being levelled against me,” she said in a statement.
She said given the “seriousness” of the probe she could not continue her role.
The resignation is effective immediately and also sees her stepping down as a member of the parliament.
The 67-year-old was defence minister from 2012 to 2021, and became speaker in 2021.
South Africa’s state-owned broadcaster SABC reported that she is suspected of receiving millions of rand in cash as bribes from a former military contractor.
Mapisa-Nqakula took special leave after the raid, and filed a request for a court order to prevent her arrest, saying it would infringe on her dignity.
On Tuesday, judges rejected her bid on the basis that the matter was not urgent and they could not speculate on an arrest that was yet to happen.
Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of making several demands for money, amounting to $120,000 (£96,000), from the owner of a company to secure a tender to transport army equipment back to South Africa from elsewhere on the continent, the Business Day newspaper reports.
She is yet to be charged with any crimes and no formal announcements about her possible arrest have been made by the police.
Melissa Enoch
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