South Africa's former parliament speaker was arrested and charged with corruption and money laundering, the latest scandal to hit the governing ANC party ahead of elections in May.

"Charges against Ms Mapisa-Nqakula are 12 counts of corruption ... and one of money laundering," Bheki Manyathi of the National Prosecuting Authority told the court.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who resigned her speaker post Wednesday, was formerly detained after handing herself in to police near Pretoria and was due to appear before a judge, a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed.

(With input from AFP)