Mapisa-Nqakula denies discussing money with contractor who accuses her of corruption
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
Former South African defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denied at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that she discussed her financial difficulties with contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. Facing 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering, she is accused of soliciting 4.5 million rand in bribes and receiving 2.1 million in cash, according to IOL.
Former South African defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Wednesday denied at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria that she had talked about money with defence-sector contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who accuses her of corruption, IOL reports. She says she never told her that only 6,000 rand was left in her bank account and maintains that the contractor had that information from investigators. "Even my husband does not know how much I have in my account," she said.
Mapisa-Nqakula is on trial on 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. The prosecution accuses her of soliciting 4.5 million rand in bribes from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019, while she was defence minister, and of receiving 2.1 million rand in cash, intended according to the prosecution to fund the renovation of her home in Bruma, Johannesburg. She has pleaded not guilty and denies receiving money.
The arrest warrant issued on 2 October after an absence from court was cancelled on Wednesday by Judge Mashudu Munzhelele, as she had appeared. The 9 September hearing had been cut short after the accused felt unwell, and her team later produced a medical certificate. Mapisa-Nqakula resigned as speaker of the National Assembly after her arrest in April 2024.
