PRETORIA, Gauteng — The corruption trial of former South African defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has intensified as the state alleges she received a R250,000 kickback from a military contractor during a 2017 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) event.
Mapisa-Nqakula is facing 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering linked to her tenure as defence minister, which concluded in 2021. The latest allegations surfaced on the fourth day of her cross-examination, marking her third week in the witness stand as the state attempts to challenge her defense.
The scrutiny centered on count five of the corruption charges, which involves a SANDF spousal forum hosted by the wives of military generals in 2017. The state’s key witness, defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, alleged that she personally handed the former minister R250,000 in a gift bag inside a holding or waiting room at the event.
Mapisa-Nqakula vehemently disputed this version of events. Testifying in her defense, she denied receiving the money in a holding room from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. She maintained that the items she received were ceremonial gifts from the event organizers, not the contractor. Furthermore, she claimed she was entirely unaware that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu was serving as the master of ceremonies for the forum until she arrived at the venue.
The court also examined the timeline and nature of the relationship between the two women. They reportedly first met in January 2017, with a second meeting taking place at Mapisa-Nqakula’s private residence in Buma. The former minister explained that their bond was rooted in the shared practice of traditional healing, a relationship that lasted until 2020.
However, the state highlighted the use of alleged code names in their communications, such as “gifts,” “ino,” and “go.” The prosecution suggested that the word “gifts” was used as a codeword for specific cash amounts, specifically the R250,000 in question. Additionally, the court questioned why Mapisa-Nqakula failed to address a 2016 contract withdrawal issue that was brought to her attention by the contractor.
Towards the end of the day’s proceedings, the state introduced new allegations concerning Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu’s husband, who served as the deputy surgeon general in the army at the time. The state alleged that his suspension for falsifying overtime claims, and his subsequent retirement in 2025, were directly linked to tender irregularities involving his wife and the defence department.
Mapisa-Nqakula denied having any relationship with the husband. She testified that she did not even know he was the contractor’s husband until a July 2017 meeting, noting that he waited in his car and never entered her home.
The trial has been adjourned until Monday. The legal onus remains on the state to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the items received by the former minister constituted illegal gratification and kickbacks from departmental tenders, rather than legitimate ceremonial gifts.
