{
  "id": 6269142,
  "title": "CORRUPTION TRIAL : Wig or R300,000? Mapisa-Nqakula gives her version of disputed airport handover",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/corruption-trial-wig-or-r300-000-mapisa-nqakula-gives-her-version-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T11:06:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-08-wig-or-r300000-mapisa-nqakula-gives-her-version-of-disputed-airport-handover/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula testified on Tuesday before the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria, alleging that businesswoman Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu delivered a wig containing R300,000 to her at the Defence VIP Lounge at OR Tambo International Airport. Mapisa-Nqakula claimed that she had requested the wig after admiring Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu's hairstyle and had inquired twice about its availability, eventually receiving it in 2019. Judge Mashudu Munzhelele questioned Mapisa-Nqakula's story, citing a photograph from September 2018 showing her wearing a wig. Mapisa-Nqakula defended her account, stating that the photograph was styled differently and that she generally wore wigs for specific occasions.",
  "summary": "Testifying on Tuesday, former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula admitted she had asked for a wig and followed up twice to find out when it would arrive, while the State’s witness says the hair was delivered with R300,000 tucked underneath it.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula testified in corruption trial.",
    "Alleges Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu gave her wig with R300,000 inside.",
    "Judge doubts story after seeing September 2018 photo of Mapisa-Nqakula wearing wig."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "‘What was so special about the wig?’ State asks Mapisa-Nqakula in corruption trial",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/what-was-so-special-about-the-wig-state-asks-mapisa-nqakula-in",
        "published": "2026-09-08T11:35:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}