In a statement, the South African Parliament denied reports of the alleged arrest of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe-Mapisa-Nqakula, in Pretoria on Friday morning (22).

He also allegedly refused a summons to appear before the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court, according to the local press.

"We can confirm that the President of the National Assembly and her family are at home and that she has had no interaction with the Investigation Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) since the search and seizure operation at her home on Tuesday, March 19, 2024," the publications read.

Hours after the President of Parliament announced on Thursday (March 21) that wanted to take "special leave" from his post due to allegations of corruption, filed documents in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria challenging the way in which a search and seizure warrant was obtained against her, as well as the operation itself.

According to Mapisa-Nqakula, she was not granted access to the affidavit used to justify the search and seizure warrant, and claims that investigators subsequently entered her home without her consent.

Mapisa-Nqakula's court documents request the disclosure of all material information related to the case against her, including all documentation, in order to prepare her defense.

The President of the Assembly of the Republic also asked the NPA to provide her with more details about the case against her, saying that this information had already been given to the media and not to her.

In addition, the documents request a judicial embargo to prevent the arrest, arguing that she should first be summoned to appear in court.

"I am an elderly person and the fact that the respondents took me to a police cell for reasons other than the risk of escape is a threat to my health and my life," Mapisa-Nqakula said in court documents.