Court hears details of Mapisa-Nqakula home renovations
Former South African defense minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is on trial for corruption and money laundering charges. Testimony revealed that she allegedly used bribe money from a military contractor to fund extensive luxury renovations at her home.
Why it matters
This case highlights high-level political corruption and the misuse of public funds within the South African defense sector.
Marble countertops, chandeliers, motorised curtains, and gold beading on wardrobes. This is just some of the upgrades that the former minister of defence and military veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula had done at her home and allegedly paid for in cash, totalling roughly R1.7m, which the state believes was from kickbacks she allegedly received from a service provider.
On Wednesday, the Gauteng high court in Pretoria heard detailed testimony regarding extensive renovations at the Bruma home of former minister’s home.
Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering involving approximately R4.5m in cash bribes and benefits.
These were allegedly solicited between 2016 and 2019 from South African National Defence Force (SANDF) contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu of Umkhombe Marine. The state alleges that out of the total bribe money, Mapisa-Nqakula received roughly R2.1m in cash, which helped fund her residential upgrades.
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