Family ties and secret bags: Witnesses detail alleged bribery trail of former Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula

Family members provide damning testimony in corruption trial

The corruption and money laundering trial of former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula intensified this week as the Pretoria High Court heard testimony from the family members of a key state witness. The daughter and sister of businesswoman Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu took the stand to recount instances where they allegedly accompanied the contractor to deliver large sums of cash to the former defence minister.

The daughter’s account

Lilita Ndlovu, the 22-year-old daughter of the SANDF contractor, provided a detailed account of a July 2019 visit to Mapisa-Nqakula’s residence. According to Lilita, her mother had claimed they were meeting with a lawyer regarding a pending media report; however, they first made a stop at the minister’s home. Lilita testified that her mother arrived with two bags: her personal handbag and a separate, large leather bag sitting on the backseat of the vehicle.

Upon entering the home, Lilita was introduced to Mapisa-Nqakula before the two women retreated to a private room. Lilita remained in the sitting room for over an hour. Crucially, she noted that when her mother emerged from the private meeting, the large leather bag was no longer in her possession, whereas her personal handbag remained.

Allegations of consistent financial demands

The court also heard testimony from Andiswa Ntsondwa-Joyi, the sister of the contractor. She recounted a separate incident where she allegedly accompanied Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu to deliver R400,000 in cash. Ntsondwa-Joyi stated that her sister had expressed significant frustration during the journey regarding the persistent financial demands made by Mapisa-Nqakula.

Key details provided by Ntsondwa-Joyi include:

• The presence of a white A4 envelope kept inside her sister’s handbag, which was explicitly identified as containing money.
• The delivery of the envelope occurred at the minister’s home, which was under renovation at the time.
• A brief interaction with the former minister’s husband, who mentioned that workers were waiting to be paid.
• Confirmation from her sister after the meeting that the contents of the envelope had been successfully handed over.

The defense and the charges

Mapisa-Nqakula, who served as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans prior to her tenure as Speaker, faces a total of 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. The state alleges that the funds provided by Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu were intended to secure and protect lucrative defence logistics contracts between 2016 and 2019. Throughout the proceedings, the former minister has maintained her innocence, entering a formal plea of not guilty to all charges.

The state’s case hinges on proving that these payments were not mere professional transactions, but rather illicit bribes solicited by a public official in exchange for preferential treatment. As the trial progresses, the testimony of these family members adds a layer of personal observation that the prosecution hopes will solidify their narrative regarding the alleged flow of illicit funds.