The former speaker of South Africa’s parliament was arrested Thursday and charged with multiple counts of corruption, one day after she resigned her position.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s arrest is yet another blow to the reputation of the governing African National Congress party as it gears up for what is predicted to be South Africa’s most contentious election since the end of apartheid.
Mapisa-Nqakula, a 67-year-old veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, resigned as speaker of the house Wednesday night and turned herself in at a police station on Thursday.
She was charged in court with 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering, stemming from her time as defense minister. She is accused of having taken bribes worth about $120,000 from a former military contractor to secure a contract.
