State in Mapisa-Nqakula corruption case relying on 26 witnesses to prove her guilt

JOHANNESBURG - The State in the corruption case involving Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will be relying on 26 witnesses to prove her guilt.

Mapisa-Nqakula appeared in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where her matter was transferred to the Pretoria High Court for pretrial proceedings.

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The former parliamentary speaker is charged with 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering.

The charges relate to her time as defence minister when she allegedly solicited and received kickbacks amounting to R4.5 million from a defence contractor.

The State has handed over an indictment to Mapisa-Nqakula’s legal team.

The indictment includes the charges she’s facing, the prosecutor’s version of events, and a list of State witnesses she has been prohibited from speaking to for the duration of the case.

The spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s Investigative Directorate, Henry Mamothame, said the State is confident of a guilty verdict.

“Investigations have been complete, hence we allowed for the matter to be transferred to the High Court, hence we allowed for it to go for pretrial. 

“Normally when we go for pretrial, it certainly means everything has been completed and the State would be at that point ready for trial.”

The matter has been postponed to 16 October for pretrial proceedings at the Pretoria High Court.

Mapisa-Nqakula is out on R50,000 bail.