EFF STATEMENT WELCOMING THE RESIGNATION OF FORMER SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA
Wednesday, 03 April 2024.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcomes the long-overdue resignation of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula from her position as the Speaker of Parliament and as a Member of Parliament. Her departure from these roles is a significant development, albeit one that has been far too delayed and avoided by her arrogance.
It is evident that Mapisa-Nqakula's resignation comes as a result of mounting pressure and public scrutiny, rather than a genuine acknowledgment of her own lack of integrity and the compromised integrity of Parliament under her stewardship. Her involvement in receiving over R4.5 million in bribes during her tenure as Minister of Defence highlights the severity of the allegations against her and reveals that what the ANC considers the best amongst its ranks is the worst for our nation.
Mapisa-Nqakula's purported reason for resigning, which she claims is to protect the integrity of Parliament, rings hollow in light of her recent audacious attempt to evade accountability for her alleged corrupt actions. Just this week, she brazenly sought to interdict her own arrest, demonstrating a flagrant disregard for the gravity of the charges against her and proving that she has no genuine interest in cooperating with law enforcement agencies. Any individual truly dedicated to justice would willingly submit themselves to the appropriate authorities and cooperate with investigations.
As it stands, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is reeling under the weight of severe repercussions, and is incapable of upholding crucial peacekeeping missions in Mozambique and the DRC. This dire state of affairs is a direct consequence of the rampant corruption fostered and perpetuated by Mapisa-Nqakula, which has grievously undermined the safety and well-being of our dedicated troops.
The EFF reiterates that Mapisa-Nqakula must be arrested and considers her resignation as just one step towards restoring accountability and transparency in Parliament. It is a blessing in disguise for her that the position of the Speaker carries no lifetime benefits, as the EFF would immediately pursue her impeachment.
We call for swift action to be taken to investigate and prosecute her, and all those implicated in corruption and malfeasance, such as President Ramaphosa himself, who still has not accounted for the crime scene that is Phala Phala. The EFF remains committed to fighting against the ANC's culture of impunity and using their majority in Parliament to evade accountability.
It is imperative that Parliament serves as a beacon of democracy and governance, free from the taint of corruption and abuse of power.
Under Mapisa-Nqakula, Parliament was turned into a shield for ANC corruption, where opposition voices were violently stifled in defence of Cyril Ramaphosa. Under her rule, Members of Parliament were physically assaulted, sexually assaulted, and suspended without remuneration, all because they executed their duties of holding the executive accountable for the crimes at Phala Phala Farm.
The resignation of Mapisa-Nqakula should serve as a warning to all public officials that the people will not tolerate corruption, abuse of power and betrayal of their trust. The EFF will continue to advocate for the interests of the people and work tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails in our democracy.
Statement issued by the EFF, 3 April 2024
