{
  "id": 8041848,
  "title": "Mapisa-Nqakula denies involvement in awarding of R80 million tender",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/mapisa-nqakula-denies-involvement-in-awarding-of-r80-million-tender",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T14:50:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/mapisa-nqakula-denies-involvement-in-awarding-of-r80-million-tender/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Defense Minister and National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has denied any role in the awarding of an R80 million contract to military contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. The state initiated the cross-examination of the former minister in the High Court in Pretoria. Mapisa-Nqakula stated that she first received a call from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who claimed she was being \"abused\" within the department following the cancellation of one of her tenders without adequate justification. The state claims that Mapisa-Nqakula's involvement in the matter resulted in the new contract being awarded. Speaking through an English interpreter, Mapisa-Nqakula said, \"Counsel, by implication, you are suggesting that I gave Nombasa a tender; that is not true and on top of it not being the truth, Nombasa, herself, testified in court that I did not even go back to her.\"",
  "summary": "Mapisa-Nqakula has denied any involvement in the awarding of an R80 million tender.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denies involvement in R80 million tender award.",
    "Mapisa-Nqakula claims she was abused within the department after a tender cancellation.",
    "Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu testified she wasn't given the new contract by Mapisa-Nqakula."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}