Opposition parties have welcomed the resignation of National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) calling for the urgent election of a new Speaker, while Lechesa Tsenoli continues in the role of Acting Speaker.

The African National Congress (ANC) confirmed that Mapisa-Nqakula's resignation letter was received by party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces allegations of corruption and money laundering, reportedly totalling over R4-million.

“In her resignation, Comrade Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula highlighted her intention to protect the reputation of our organisation, the African National Congress, after dedicating more than 30 years of service,” said the party.

DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation was a victory for accountability and Parliament.

She noted the vacancy in Parliament, saying National Assembly rules and the Constitution state that once a vacancy has been created, an election of a new Speaker must take place.

Gwarube said that her party would be writing to the Secretary to Parliament Xolile George to initiate the necessary processes.

She noted that the sixth Parliament remains competent to perform its important functions until May 21.

“There is still outstanding business of the House which must be completed. While there is a looming election, we cannot play fast and loose with provisions of the Constitution and the Rules of the National Assembly. These decisions and our actions are precedent-setting and must be followed to the letter and cannot be simply ignored for the sake of convenience,” Gwarube said.

She said the DA would be probing the National Assembly’s Powers and Privileges committee and the National Council of Province's Standing Committee about its investigations into Mapisa-Nqakula and chairperson Amos Masondo as it related to the salary hike scandal of the Secretary to Parliament.

“To this day, the House is still none the wiser about how a 70% salary hike was approved by the two Executive Authorities. That matter still needs to be investigated and an outcome reached. The DA has fully supported the work of the legal counsel appointed by Parliament to deal with this matter. The committee must, therefore, report on the progress and take the public into its confidence,” she explained.

Gwarube highlighted that if Mapisa-Nqakula was found to have contravened the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, she may be criminally charged - even as an “ordinary” member of the public.

However, she said that the chairperson of the NCOP still remained in his position and his role in this salary scandal must also be probed and corrective measures must be put in place.

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said his party welcomed Mapisa-Nqakula's resignation, calling it a responsible decision as it allowed her to focus on her legal matters without dragging Parliament along.

Hlengwa said his party maintained that the law must apply without any fear or favour, imploring the former Speaker to subject herself to the legal processes.

GOOD Party secretary-general and MP Brett Herron noted that a parliamentary vote to remove Mapisa-Nqakula, with the ANC using its majority to protect her, would have been distasteful and deepened citizens’ cynicism about politics and voting on the eve of a critical election.

Since news of her imminent arrest emerged, GOOD has called on the ANC to do the “right thing”, cut the Speaker loose, and spare the country further “hand-wringing and humiliation”, he said.

“While the principle of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty applies, the seniority of the Speaker’s office requires an occupant of unquestionable ethics. While we don’t know if Mapisa-Nqakula was pushed by her party, or voluntarily walked the plank, Parliament’s integrity has been spared the spectacle of an unedifying debate on a motion of no confidence,” he said.

The wheels of justice must now turn, either to determine Mapisa-Nqakula’s guilt or to exonerate her, said the GOOD Party.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) said Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation was correctly sensitive to the comprehensive spirit, viewed purposively, of the “step aside” resolutions adopted by the ANC, with the support of SACP and other ANC-led Alliance partners, as well as most South Africans.