Mapisa-Nqakula denies receiving R250k illicit cash payment

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has denied allegations that she requested and received a R250,000 illicit cash payment from military contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu in 2018. She is currently facing 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering at the Pretoria High Court. During cross-examination, Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu testified that Mapisa-Nqakula requested the money using the code word "padkos" and delivered it to her in a gift bag at a SANDF spousal forum in 2018.

Mapisa-Nqakula firmly denies receiving any gift, stating that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu never gave her a gift bag or any specific bag referred to by the state. The state also questioned Mapisa-Nqakula regarding another matter involving Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu's husband, former SANDF Deputy Surgeon-General Major-General Noel Ndhlovu, who has been ordered to repay money from his salary related to alleged overtime overpayments.

Ndhlovu denied the basis of the repayment and wrote to senior SANDF officials explaining the matter was mischaracterised. When presented with Ndhlovu's letter, Mapisa-Nqakula claimed she had never read it, leading the state to question her ability to comment on the matter without having seen Ndhlovu's account. State Prosecutor Emile Van Der Merwe accused Mapisa-Nqakula of defaming and slandering Ndhlovu without even reviewing the source document. The trial is scheduled to resume on September 28th.