{"id":94562,"date":"2025-01-24T15:51:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T13:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/?p=94562"},"modified":"2025-01-24T15:51:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T13:51:01","slug":"former-defence-minister-nosiviwe-mapisa-nqakulas-corruption-case-takes-center-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/former-defence-minister-nosiviwe-mapisa-nqakulas-corruption-case-takes-center-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula\u2019s Corruption Case Takes Center Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za<\/a>
\n24 January 2025 |15:45 CAT
\n3 min read<\/p>\n

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the former South African Defence Minister and current Speaker of Parliament, is embroiled in a high-profile legal battle as her legal team pushes for the disclosure of confidential sections of the prosecution docket. The case stems from a devastating affidavit submitted by defence tenderpreneur Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, which details allegations of corruption, entitlement, and systemic extortion within the Department of Defence.<\/p>\n

The affidavit, described as a potential game changer, sheds light on the alleged corrupt practices involving Mapisa-Nqakula and raises broader questions about accountability in South Africa\u2019s public institutions. Sam Sole, an esteemed investigative journalist and co-founder of the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, weighed in on the complexities and implications of the case.<\/p>\n

According to Sole, the affidavit is a Section 204 affidavit, which means Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu is an accomplice who was kind of in the room with the perpetrator and is \u201cspilling the beans on a co-perpetrator\u201d. He explained that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu hopes to secure immunity in exchange for providing full and honest evidence.<\/p>\n

If found credible, the affidavit could provide invaluable insights into a culture of corruption within the highest levels of government and the African National Congress (ANC). However, Sole noted that the process of securing Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu as a state witness has raised questions about her credibility and the integrity of the affidavit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe affidavit is so damning that the minister\u2019s defence team is going to zero in on it and try to raise doubts about the credibility of the witness,\u201d he said. He highlighted contradictions between Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu\u2019s affidavit and evidence gathered by the National Prosecuting Authority\u2019s (NPA) Serious Commercial Crimes Unit.<\/p>\n

Sole also pointed out concerns about the process by which Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu was made a state witness. At the time, she was already facing charges in court, and the decision to drop those charges in exchange for her testimony has led to accusations of mismanagement and mistrust within the NPA.<\/p>\n

Broader Implications of Corruption<\/strong><\/h4>\n

According to Sole, Mapisa-Nqakula\u2019s alleged actions suggest that her behaviour was not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader system of entitlement and corruption. \u201cThe casual demands for money and the alleged offer to promote Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu\u2019s husband within the SANDF reflect a sense of entitlement and a culture of corruption that was, at least to some extent, known within the department,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n

The affidavit also alleges that key figures, including former Secretary of Defence Sam Gulube, were aware of and possibly complicit in the corrupt activities. Sole noted that Gulube\u2019s role in creating a corrupt network within the SANDF warrants further investigation despite his passing.<\/p>\n

Challenges Within the NPA<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The NPA has faced internal mistrust, which could impact the prosecution\u2019s chances of success. Sole explained, \u201cThere was an option for the investigating directorate to consult with their colleagues in the Serious Commercial Crimes Unit, but this was not done. Instead, misleading answers were provided, leading to mistrust between different arms of the NPA.\u201d<\/p>\n

The internal divisions within the NPA have raised concerns about its ability to effectively prosecute high-profile cases. He emphasised the importance of getting this case right to restore public trust in the institution.<\/p>\n

The affidavit reveals alleged demands for bribes using coded language, such as referring to money as \u201cMpepu.\u201d Sole highlighted how this casual use of coded language underscores the entrenched nature of corruption within government. \u201cThe minister allegedly used terms like \u2018bring the same Mpepu again,\u2019 and WhatsApp communication between her and Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu provides important backing for these claims,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He suggested that fear of financial harm and retaliation may have played a role in Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu\u2019s compliance with alleged demands for bribes. \u201cIf you know your business was obtained improperly, you are in a bind when someone demands payment to protect it,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

The case has significant implications for public perceptions of corruption in South Africa\u2019s government institutions. \u201cThis confirms the public\u2019s view that many public institutions are rotten,\u201d Sole said. He criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s tendency to avoid addressing allegations against powerful figures directly. \u201cThe president moved Mapisa-Nqakula from the ministry to become Speaker, reinforcing the perception that powerful individuals face no consequences,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Next Steps in the Case<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The case has been postponed to allow the prosecution and defence to negotiate the disclosure of key documents. Sole noted that the defence will likely use any disclosed information to challenge Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu\u2019s credibility and the process by which she became a state witness. \u201cThe next critical stage will be when Mapisa-Nqakula is required to plead and when Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu enters the witness box. Her testimony will be pivotal in determining the outcome of this case,\u201d Sole stated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za 24 January 2025 |15:45 CAT 3 min read Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the former South African Defence Minister and current Speaker of Parliament, is embroiled in a high-profile legal battle as her legal team pushes for the disclosure of confidential sections of the prosecution docket. The case stems from a devastating affidavit submitted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":94563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-94562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/images-8.jpeg?fit=614%2C500&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0QIf-oBc","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-17 07:26:51","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94562"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94562\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}