By Zukile Majova
The fraud and corruption case of disgraced former speaker of parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has been referred to the North Gauteng High Court.
Initially, lawyers representing Mapisa-Nqakula claimed the state case against her was weak and that she should not be indicted.
However, state prosecutors are convinced they have a solid case, and over 30 witnesses have been secured to testify on behalf of the state.
Mapisa-Nqakula has been charged with 12 counts of fraud and corruption after allegedly soliciting and receiving kickbacks worth some R4-million from companies that received contracts from her when she was the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
In one instance, she allegedly demanded kickbacks from a company that received over R200-million in defence contracts.
The main whistleblower told state prosecutors that he delivered millions of rands to Mapisa-Nqakula and has submitted a detailed affidavit to the regional director of public prosecutions.
Mapisa-Nqakula is out on R50,000 bail and will appear in court in Pretoria on 16 October.
The state and defence lawyers will begin a pre-trial conference on this day.
Mapisa-Nqakula was forced to resign after being charged just a few weeks before the 29 May elections.
Fearing the case against her would tarnish the ANC’s image, the former speaker of the National Assembly was pressured to step down from her position as a member of the party’s national executive committee until she cleared her name.
During her court appearance on Tuesday, Mapisa-Nqakula was supported by her husband, Charles Nqakula, the former defence minister and national chairperson of the ANC.
Pictured above: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
Source: X
