Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will stand trial on 13 corruption and money-laundering charges. Image: X
Corruption
1Min
South Africa
Mapisa-Nqakula loses bid to have corruption case dismissed
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will stand trial on 13 corruption and money-laundering charges after the Gauteng High Court ruled that the State has presented enough evidence for her to answer the case.
Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has lost her bid to have 12 corruption charges and one money-laundering charge dismissed, clearing the way for her trial to proceed.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Monday has dismissed Mapisa-Nqakula’s application for a discharge, ruling that the State has established a prima facie case against her.
Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting corrupt payments from South African National Defence Force (SANDF) contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019, while she was serving as Defence Minister.
In an almost two-hour-long judgment, Judge Mashudu Munzhelele addressed each of the 13 counts against the former minister.
The judge dismissed Mapisa-Nqakula’s discharge application on all the charges, finding that the State had presented sufficient evidence for her to answer the case.
“The evidence is therefore sufficient to require the accused to answer count 13,” Munzhelele said before delivering the order.
“The application for discharge in terms of Section 174 in respect of all counts is denied.”
As the judgment was read, Mapisa-Nqakula gently nodded her head while sitting in the dock.
The ruling means she must now prepare her defence and respond to the evidence presented by the State.
Mapisa-Nqakula has denied the allegations against her.
