CORRUPTION TRIAL : Why Mapisa-Nqakula paid cash to renovation workers — ‘I’m not an EFT person’
Before falling ill in court, former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula testified she struggled with EFTs and relied on cash to pay workers during the R1.8-million renovations at her Joburg home. Her legal team says her doctor will advise whether she is fit to return to court.
Former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula testified in a corruption trial that she struggled with electronic fund transfers (EFTs) and relied on cash payments for workers during renovations at her Johannesburg home. The renovations cost between R1.6 million and R1.8 million, with about R600,000 allocated for curtains. Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyer asked why she used cash instead of EFTs, to which she responded, "I am not an EFT person.
Ever since they did away with cheques, I struggled." She acknowledged it took her years to learn how to use EFTs and only became comfortable with them after retiring. Some workers did not have bank accounts and preferred cash payments, especially on Fridays. Mapisa-Nqakula's bank records showed she and her husband withdrew money from ATMs to make payments when cash was unavailable.
The cash payments are part of the State's evidence regarding the renovations carried out at Mapisa-Nqakula's home between 2018 and 2020.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
