Mapisa-Nqakula denies asking for R2 million bribe to promote husband in SANDF

Former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is standing trial on serious corruption and money laundering charges. One allegation claims she asked a defence contractor for R2 million to help secure her husband’s promotion within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). She denies this.

The trial is taking place in the Pretoria High Court. The state says Mapisa-Nqakula demanded the bribe from Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, a contractor who held logistics tenders with the SANDF. Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu says she refused to pay the R2 million, believing her husband was qualified and should be promoted on merit.

Mapisa-Nqakula told the court she had no power to decide on appointments like that promotion. She said the final decision is made by the President. The prosecution, however, alleges she intended to use the money to influence then SANDF Chief General Solly Shoke.

The state presented WhatsApp messages as evidence, but Mapisa-Nqakula denies these chats are authentic. She says the style and language used don’t match her way of speaking and that the messages were never sent between her and Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. She also said she does not have records of such conversations on her phone.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering linked to her time as defence minister from 2016 to 2019. The prosecution claims she solicited R4.5 million in bribes and received about R2.1 million in cash. Some of the money is said to have been used for renovations at her home.

The court has already dismissed her attempt to have the charges dropped early, saying there is enough evidence to proceed with the trial. But the case is far from over, and Mapisa-Nqakula maintains her innocence.