CORRUPTION TRIAL : Ex-defence minister Mapisa-Nqakula grilled over tenders, millions and a wig
Former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was cross-examined in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday about the timeline of a R79m contract awarded to the woman who claimed to have paid her millions in bribes.
Former South African defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was questioned at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria about alleged corruption and money laundering. Prosecutors allege she received R4.5 million from Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019 while serving as defence minister. The focus of the cross-examination was a R79 million defence contract, which Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu allegedly received after the original R104 million contract was cancelled.
Mapisa-Nqakula denied influencing the contract award, stating she did not sit on procurement committees. The prosecutor also questioned Mapisa-Nqakula about a R300,000 payment she received from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, concealed under a wig at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. Mapisa-Nqakula denied receiving the money, insisting it was merely a gift.
The court heard that the renovations at Mapisa-Nqakula's home in Johannesburg cost R1.8 million, with about R600,000 spent on imported curtain fabric. The State claims R2.1 million of these costs were paid in cash by Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu.
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