DA threatens legal action should Modise agree to Mapisa-Nqakula's request for legal aid
On Friday, it emerged that Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had asked the defence department for legal aid, sparking tensions between officials and Modise.
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
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has threatened legal action if Defence Minister Thandi Modise agrees to provide former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula with legal representation for her upcoming corruption trial.
DA defence spokesperson, Kobus Marais, said that Mapisa-Nqakula’s request was irregular and smacked of arrogance.
On Friday, it emerged that Mapisa-Nqakula had asked the department for legal aid, sparking tensions between officials and Modise.
Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 charges of corruption and money laundering related to tenders at the defence department.
It led to her premature departure from Parliament.
Modise said she would be the one to decide on Mapisa-Nqakula’s request after the department’s legal head appeared to have already processed the request without Modise’s approval.
But Marais said Modise shouldn’t even entertain the matter.
"Mapisa-Nqakula is being charged in her personal capacity for alleged acts of fraud and corruption and therefore should not be seeking legal aid from the public purse that she contemptuously abused in the commission of the alleged crimes."
Marais has also called for the suspension of the department’s legal head, Major-General Eric Mnisi, for secretly processing the request.
"Mnisi abused his position and should be held fully accountable for the serious offence of breach of trust."
Marais said if Modise agreed to Mapisa-Nqakula’s request, the DA would go to court to have the decision reviewed and set aside.
Mapisa-Nqakula is due to be back in court in June.