South African court rejects Mapisa-Nqakula’s bid to stop arrest

The High Court in Pretoria has dismissed South Africa’s former speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s attempt to stop her arrest. Justice Sulet Potterill said if the court were to grant Mapisa-Nqakula’s application, all suspects would make such an appointment to prevent their arrest. Potterill ruled that the court could not declare an arrest unlawful before it happened. The Judge also struck the application from the roll and ordered her to pay costs.

According to Daily Maverick, Last week, it emerged in court documents that the Investigating Directorate was ready to charge Mapisa-Nqakula with 12 counts of corruption totalling R4.55-million. In an affidavit, ID deputy director of public prosecutions Bheki Manyathi also referenced the search and seizure operation that was conducted at Mapisa-Nqakula’s Johannesburg home on Tuesday, 19 March.