The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday said it will submit a formal motion of no confidence against National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to be debated and voted on before the House rises and the expiration of the current term.

DA Chief Whip Siviwe Gwarube said the party noted the ‘special leave’ announced by Mapisa-Nqakula, who faces allegations of corruption and money laundering, reportedly totalling over R4-million.

Mapisa-Nqakula has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless".

On Tuesday National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) investigators raided Mapisa-Nqakula home as part of the corruption inquiry, but did not provide further details on the investigation or the corruption allegations. Mapisa-Nqakula has taken special leave from her role as Speaker while the investigation plays out.

On Friday, claims that Mapisa-Nqakula was arrested or handed herself in to police made its way across some news sites and social media. The NPA’s Investigating Directorate and Mapisa-Nqakula have both denied this.

Meanwhile, Gwarube said the DA will write to all political parties represented in Parliament urging them to support its motion for the removal of the Speaker.

“The announcement that she has taken ‘special leave’ not resigned has left us with no choice but to submit a formal motion of no confidence to be debated and voted on before the House rises and the expiration of this term,” she said.

She said the rules of Parliament do not make provision for ‘special leave’ taken by a member by a unilateral decision.

A special leave is only granted by a full sitting of the House; through a formal motion that is adopted in terms of rule 36(2) of the National Assembly rules, she added.

“Alternatively, a member may be granted 5 days of special leave with approval from their political party. Based on the communication of the African National Congress last night, it would seem this is not the case,” said Gwarube.

She highlighted that this special leave is nothing more than a cop out.

She said the DA has repeatedly called for the Speaker to resign as it is “simply not fitting” for the head of the national legislature to be facing allegations of corruption and a possible imminent arrest following a raid at her house this week.

Additionally, Gwarube noted that in light of the fact that the Speaker may face arrest, the DA wants the NPA and all law enforcement agencies to take the necessary steps to prevent her from leaving the country.

“Mapisa- Nqakula must resign or removed through a motion of no confidence. Anything less than that will be a mockery of Parliament and more importantly, South Africa,” Gwarube said.