Mapisa-Nqakula trial: court hears of Ndhlovu-HR salary challenge

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has heard how retired deputy surgeon-general Maj-Gen Noel Ndhlovu asked the SA National Defence Force in 2017 to halt salary deductions imposed on seven senior military healthcare officers, including himself, because of administrative failures within human resources.

The details of the request emerged on Wednesday during the cross-examination of former minister of defence and military veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who is facing 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering stemming from her tenure as defence minister between 2016 and 2019.

Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly solicited R4.5m in bribes, R2.1m of which was reportedly paid in cash, from SANDF logistics contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu to secure and maintain government tenders. Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who is the state’s key witness, is married to Ndhlovu.

Prosecutor Emile van der Merwe presented a letter to the court, highlighting the steps Ndhlovu took to address the healthcare offices’ salary issue.