A political analyst believes the National Assembly Speaker’s court battles could damage
ANC support ahead of the May polls. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s application to interdict
her arrest on corruption allegations is expected to be heard in the high court in Pretoria
today.

She is accused of accepting bribes worth millions from a military contractor while she
was Defence and Military Veterans Minister. Her home was raided by the National
Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate in Johannesburg last week.

In her application, Mapisa-Nqakula demands the full disclosure of the case against her
including the charges, notes from the investigators, and the complete investigation file.
The Investigating Directorate says it will oppose the application which it has called
baseless.

Political analyst Levy Ndou says the ruling party will likely move into damage control
mode over the allegations against the senior party member. “Whether you like it or not,
these are the kinds of issues that create a dent in political parties, and I think what the
ANC should be busy with now is how they actually manage these issues,” Ndou stated.

With elections just months away, the corruption case and legal battles surrounding the
National Assembly Speaker could potentially hurt the ANC at the polls if not handled
carefully. The party will need an effective strategy to limit any fallout from the high-
profile matter.