Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial | ‘Ndidiniwe’: Former minister cuts testimony short

The sudden departure of former Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, from the Pretoria High Court has added an unexpected twist to her corruption and money-laundering trial.

Mapisa-Nqakula abruptly left court on Wednesday, telling those around her, “ndidiniwe” (she is tired).

Her instructing attorney, Makhi Nogaga, says the legal team had already noticed that the former minister appeared increasingly fatigued and advised her to consult her general practitioner.

Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting about R4.5 million in bribes from defence contractor, Nombasa Ntshondwa-Ndlovu, between 2016 and 2019.

The State also alleges she ultimately received more than R2 million in cash.

However, Mapisa-Nqakula has repeatedly rejected the allegations, insisting that she neither solicited nor received kickbacks from the contractor.

And as she continues to give her version of events, the former minister has sought to distance herself from claims that she regularly initiated contact with Ntshondwa-Ndlovu.

The court previously heard that Mapisa-Nqakula sent the contractor a WhatsApp message asking to meet, saying she wanted to interpret a dream she had about her.

Ntshondwa-Ndlovu suggested that the reference to the dream was a coded request for money.

But Mapisa-Nqakula has strongly disputed that interpretation, telling the court that it was actually Ntshondwa-Ndlovu who had told her about a dream and needed her help in interpreting it.

Mapisa-Nqakula also argued that her demanding schedule meant she had little time to initiate meetings with the contractor.

Then came the issue of the curtains.

Mapisa-Nqakula rejected allegations that she bought curtains worth R600,000, telling the court that none of the curtains in her home cost more than R200,000.

She also addressed claims that the curtains were sourced from overseas, acknowledging that she has purchased household ornaments and materials abroad, and saying she often deals directly with international factories because she can sometimes get products at affordable prices.

The former minster told the court that she purchased material in Egypt, which was later used to make curtains now installed in her lounge.

“I bought them overseas. And because I was not aware of the measurements needed, I bought the curtains which had to be extended as soon as I got back home with similar material. The actual things that I bought in Egypt is actually these curtains. I only bought the material so that Nomsa could do the stitching. I cannot recall how much they cost me but they weren’t expensive,” Mapisa-Nqakula explained.

Ntshondwa-Ndlovu had previously alleged that curtains in Mapisa-Nqakula’s bedroom were bought with money she gave her.

But Mapisa-Nqakula dismissed the claim, pointing out that Ntshondwa-Ndlovu had never even been inside her bedroom.

The courtroom then turned its attention to renovations at Mapisa-Nqakula’s Johannesburg home.

The former minister has rejected the State’s version that alleged kickbacks were used to fund improvements to the property.

Instead, she told the court that she paid for the renovations with her own hard-earned money.

According to Mapisa-Nqakula, one of the garages was renovated as far back as 2014, years before she met Nstondwa-Ndlovhu.

She also placed some responsibility for the work with her long-time project manager, Nomsa Tshabalala, who she says has overseen renovations and interior design projects at the property.

Mapisa-Nqakula says Tshabalala has been a trusted member of her family since 2004, when they moved into the home.

She told the court that Tshabalala has played an important role in advising her on renovation projects, particularly because she says she does not have extensive knowledge of the different materials required for work around the house.

The only major project Tshabalala did not oversee, according to Mapisa-Nqakula, was the construction of a wall, for which she says she received assistance from the Department of Public Works.

But the State’s case goes beyond the walls, garages and curtains.

The court has also been examining Mapisa-Nqakula’s financial records and transactions linked to her overseas travel, including a trip to New York in September 2018.

Prosecutors allege that she requested the equivalent of about R150,000 in US dollars to pay for private renovations to her home, including items sourced from New York.

Mapisa-Nqakula insists she used her own money to travel.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao