Mapisa-Nqakula’s travel allowances under spotlight in court

Former National Assembly Speaker and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's travel allowances are under intense examination in the High Court in Pretoria. Mapisa-Nqakula, who stands accused of 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering, adamantly denies utilizing illicit funds for overseas travel. The state contends she received approximately R4.5 million, including a $10,000 payment from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu.

During her testimony in isiXhosa through an English interpreter, Mapisa-Nqakula asserts that ministers are entitled to foreign-currency allowances for official travel, which includes a stipend for unforeseen expenses. She elaborates, “My staff has been given money, then my allowance will be taken off, placed in an envelope, as we know they would be receiving it from Bidvest or wherever.

The money that gets to be refunded back or taken back to the department, it is an advance allowance that one is given in case of any unexpected expenditure that had to take place.”