State not opposed to release of Mapisa-Nqakula on bail
State prosecutor Bheki Manyathi said Mapisa-Nqakula is not a flight risk and is of advanced age.
Former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, appears in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on corruption allegations on 4 April 2024. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
PRETORIA - The State says it is not opposed to the release of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on bail.
Mapisa-Nqakula made her first appearance at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.
The former Parliament speaker - who resigned from being a speaker and a member of Parliament on Wednesday, faces 12 counts of corruption and fraud.
The State alleges she received over R4.5 million in kickbacks from a defence contractor during her time as the Defence Minister.
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State prosecutor Bheki Manyathi said Mapisa-Nqakula is not a flight risk and is of advanced age.
“The applicant handed herself over to law enforcement through her attorney. It is interesting your worship, the last point that is not part of the affidavit, I had it noted as part of the reasons why they are not opposing bail.”
Meanwhile, the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) was not seen alongside Mapisa-Nqakula who is its former president as she appeared in court over corruption allegations.
It said it continues to support her but would rather watch the matter unfold from afar.
The league is also appealing to structures in the ANC to afford the criminal justice space to conclude the matter.
“You remain a woman. We still support you and if it means that whether she gets to be found on the wrong side of the law, we will still provide some sort of counselling if it’s required because we are not women that would want to see others being broken and being destroyed,” said ANCWL secretary general Nokuthula Nqaba: