Witness details alleged coded cash requests by Mapisa-Nqakula

Businesswoman, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, has told the Pretoria High Court that former National Assembly Speaker and Defense Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, used coded language rooted in traditional practice when allegedly requesting money from her.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the State’s key witness in Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption trial, testified that terms such as “a dream,” “mpepho” and snuff were understood within their traditional practice community to be requests for cash.

Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting at least R4.5 million in bribes and received about R2.1 million in cash from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019.

The alleged requests ranged from R100,000 to R2 million, including one allegedly made in US dollars and another for “R300,000 and a wig”.

The witness testified that on 14 September 2018, Mapisa-Nqakula sent her a WhatsApp message saying she had a “dream” she urgently needed to discuss. Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu said she understood this to be a request for R150,000, which she withdrew from her savings and delivered to Mapisa-Nqakula’s home after allegedly being instructed not to sign in at the security gate.

She told the court that the following day she received another request for an “additional mpepho of the same size,” which she understood to mean another R150,000. She testified that she handed over the money despite having intended to use it for other purposes.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu testified that she felt unable to question the former Defence Minister because she was a contractor in the department and feared the consequences of refusing her.

The witness further testified that Mapisa-Nqakula once requested 150,000 US dollars, allegedly for renovations to her home.

She said she obtained the money from a local currency exchanger despite believing the transaction was unlawful, and later handed the cash to the former minister.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu told the court she found the request unusual because Mapisa-Nqakula had no passport or international travel plans at the time.

The witness also alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula asked her for R2 million to secure a promotion for her husband.

The businesswoman said she refused, insisting her husband was qualified for the position and should not have to pay for a promotion. She testified that he was never promoted.

The witness, also told the court that she was summoned to the former minister’s office to deliver a brand-new Ted Baker handbag.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu became emotional as she recounted being asked to deliver the handbag to Mapisa-Nqakula’s office, saying she felt ashamed after leaving the meeting.

Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao