Mapisa-Nqakula denies receiving R800,000 in alleged corruption payments

Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption and money laundering trial continued in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, where she denied allegations that defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu paid her more than R800,000.

The 70-year-old former Speaker appeared in court on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, as the State continued questioning her about alleged payments linked to the corruption case.

During cross-examination, Mapisa-Nqakula was questioned about several alleged payments that the State claims were made to her.

She denied receiving R400,000 allegedly paid in April 2019, as well as another R100,000 allegedly paid in July 2019.

The allegations form part of the State’s case against Mapisa-Nqakula, who faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.

She is accused of soliciting approximately R4.5 million from a service provider, with the State alleging that about R2.1 million was received in cash.

The State has now completed its cross-examination of Mapisa-Nqakula, with the Gauteng High Court postponing the matter to Friday, 13 November, when the defence is expected to call its next witness.

Mapisa-Nqakula has denied wrongdoing and is contesting the charges against her.

She is currently out on R50,000 bail.

The case relates to allegations involving payments allegedly made by Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, a defence contractor, during Mapisa-Nqakula’s tenure as chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans.

The former Speaker resigned from her parliamentary position in March 2024 amid the allegations but has maintained her innocence.

The trial will resume on Friday, with attention now expected to turn to evidence presented by the defence.