Mapisa-Nqakula Testimony Interrupted as Former Speaker Seeks Urgent Medical Attention
The corruption and money-laundering trial of former National Assembly Speaker and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was abruptly halted on Wednesday after her legal counsel informed the Pretoria High Court that she required immediate medical attention.
The sudden interruption paused what has been a highly charged week of testimony, where Mapisa-Nqakula has taken the witness stand to defend herself against serious allegations of state-level graft.
The court has adjourned the proceedings, noting that a resumption date will depend entirely on her medical evaluation and subsequent health status.
Before the proceedings were cut short, Mapisa-Nqakula testified regarding the financial scrutiny surrounding her private life, stating she “never imagined” she would one day have to account in a court of law for renovations carried out at her private residence.
The State alleges that during her tenure, Mapisa-Nqakula pocketed millions of rands in bribes from a prominent defence contractor.
According to the prosecution, a portion of these illicit funds was used directly to upgrade her home—including flooring, carpets, and security walls—with transactions allegedly hidden behind coded references to mask the trail.
Mapisa-Nqakula has maintained her innocence throughout the trial, strongly denying any wrongdoing and vehemently contesting the state’s parameters of the cash trail.
The former Speaker faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.
The charges stem from accusations made by defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the director of Umkhombe Marine, who claims she paid Mapisa-Nqakula millions in cash to secure lucrative South African National Defence Force (SANDF) logistics tenders.
The state has previously presented corroborating financial evidence highlighting substantial cash withdrawals from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu’s accounts aligning with the dates of the alleged payouts.
The defence team has actively hit back, pushing heavily for a Section 174 discharge application, arguing that the state’s case relies on weak evidence and lacks the substance required for a conviction.
The trial remains on ice pending further directions from the court regarding Mapisa-Nqakula’s health condition.
