South African Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has lost a court bid to stop her being arrested over allegations of corruption.
She is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts while serving as defence minister from 2012 to 2021. She vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Last week Ms Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyers filed an interdict to prevent her arrest, saying it would infringe on her dignity. She also sought an order compelling the state to disclose the evidence against her.
But on Tuesday the High Court in Pretoria ruled that the matter was not urgent and it could not speculate on an arrest that was yet to happen.
Last month, an elite police unit raided Ms Mapisa-Nqakula’s home in Johannesburg, acting on behalf of investigating state prosecutors.
The 67-year-old veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle became Speaker in 2021.
