Judge in Mapisa-Nqakula's corruption matter unhappy with progress of case

JOHANNESBURG - The judge presiding over the corruption case of former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is unhappy with the progress of the case, following yet another postponement.

Mapisa-Nqakula appeared at the Pretoria High Court on Friday, where she faces 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering.

It's alleged that as defence minister, she solicited and received kickbacks, amounting to R4.5 million from a defence contractor.

In April, Judge Mokhine Mosopa made a ruling that Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyers should be given access to a Dequar Military Police docket.

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This is the docket of the State's star witness, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, where she is charged with corruption in a separate case.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu's case was eventually struck off the court roll due to persistent delays, leading to Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyers suspecting she may have made a quid pro quo deal with the State.

READ: High Court says State isn't infringing on Mapisa-Nqakula’s right to a fair trial

Prosecutor Paul Louw said that since the docket was from another court, he could not disclose it.

"I only received confirmation from my colleagues in the SCCU (Specialised Commercial Crimes Court), where the military matter was being held yesterday afternoon, that the docket is available to me as a member of the investigating director. I cannot disclose it, it must formally happen via the office of the national director of public prosecutions."

Judge Mosopa adjourned the matter to 18 August for a progress report on the disclosure process.