South Africa’s ex-Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been charged with 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.

She made her first court appearance after handing herself over to a police station this morning.

The politician is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts during her time as defence minister.

She, however, denied any wrongdoing in court and said she did not have a propensity to commit crime.