R2 Million Corruption Case Against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Postponed to October

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, former Speaker of Parliament, faces charges of corruption and money laundering. Her case has been postponed to October, with the trial set to commence at the High Court in Pretoria.

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the embattled former Speaker of Parliament, appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to face multiple charges of corruption and money laundering. Acting Chief Magistrate Vusimuzi Mahlangu confirmed that Mapisa-Nqakula has been served with an indictment to appear before the High Court in Pretoria. The trial is scheduled to start on October 16.

Previously, IOL reported that Mapisa-Nqakula’s case had been postponed, and she was expected to receive an indictment to appear in the high court. In her last court appearance, the Investigating Directorate (ID) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) clarified that Mapisa-Nqakula remained the sole accused in the high-profile case. Earlier this year, the State suggested that she would face trial alongside a co-accused, but the ID decided not to pursue charges against the second individual due to insufficient evidence.

ID spokesperson Henry Mamothame explained that further investigations led to the decision not to charge the second accused. Despite this, the ID maintained that there is enough evidence to prosecute Mapisa-Nqakula. The court extended her R50,000 bail to July 9 under the same conditions, which include surrendering her passport and avoiding contact with State witnesses.

Mapisa-Nqakula was released on bail in April after handing herself over to the police. The State’s charges include 12 counts of corruption under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Preca) and one count of money laundering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca). These charges stem from allegations that she solicited R4.5 million from a defense contractor, of which she allegedly received R2.1 million.

As the trial date approaches, the public and legal communities will closely watch the proceedings, given the serious nature of the charges against the former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.