The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday that given the “severity of the allegations” against National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, including 12 counts of corruption and money laundering, it is “imperative” that Parliament urgently holds the motion of no confidence against her.

The party has written to Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli to demand the immediate scheduling of the motion.

The DA welcomes the Pretoria High Court’s ruling on Tuesday, which dismissed Mapisa-Nqakula's bid for an interdict against her arrest.

“This decision underscores the urgency and necessity of proceeding with the motion of no confidence in Mapisa-Nqakula. The court's ruling sends a clear message that the legal process must be allowed to take its course, and individuals facing serious allegations cannot evade accountability,” said DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube.

Gwarube noted that Mapisa-Nqakula's attempt to halt her potential arrest had been rebuffed by the court, affirming the principle that no one was above the law.

The Deputy Speaker confirmed to the DA last week that the motion had been tabled.

Gwarube said Parliament had a responsibility to hold the Speaker to account and that the DA could not be “hamstrung by the African National Congress and its own processes”.

She added that once a motion had been tabled, it had to be deliberated on and voted on without delay, as demanded by the rules of the National Assembly.

“The integrity and credibility of the National Assembly are at stake, and South Africans deserve a Parliament that upholds the highest standards of accountability and transparency,” said Gwarube.

Meanwhile, United Democratic Movement (UDM) president Bantu Holomisa said Mapisa-Nqakula must spare politicians of having to go through a motion of no confidence, as they campaign ahead of the May elections.

Instead he wants Mapisa-Nqakula to present herself to the South African Police Service.

Last month, the UDM wrote to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence about allegations that Mapisa-Nqakula received several payments totalling over R5-million between 2017 and 2019 from at least one company that had contracts with the South African National Defence Force when she served as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.

Holomisa said he was told to take his accusations to the police, which he did.

“…and here we are waiting for Mapisa-Nqakula to do the right thing,” Holomisa said.