Former South African Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula Faces Corruption Charges, Resigns Amid Scandals Before Elections
• Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, 67, former Speaker of Parliament in South Africa, has been charged with 12 counts of corruption and 1 count of money laundering • She is accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for defense contracts while serving as Defense Minister from 2012-2019 • She denied wrongdoing but the prosecutor said there is "ample evidence" against her; she has been released on bail • Last week she unsuccessfully tried to prevent her arrest; she resigned as Speaker on Wednesday • Her resignation comes amid a series of corruption scandals plaguing South Africa's ruling ANC party ahead of May elections