Mapisa-Nqakula grilled over meetings with SANDF contractor Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu

Former defence and military veterans minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was grilled in court over her meetings with South African National Defence Force (SANDF) logistics contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu after admitting she did not have private meetings with other contractors.

Mapisa-Nqakula appeared before the Pretoria high court on Tuesday, where she faces 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering stemming from her tenure as defence minister between 2016 and 2019. She allegedly solicited R4.5m in bribes, R2.1m of which was allegedly paid in cash, from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu to secure and maintain government tenders.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who is the state’s key witness, previously testified about the alleged gratification. She stated that she first met Mapisa-Nqakula in 2016 at OR Tambo International Airport, after the former minister allegedly made continuous financial demands through the late former defence secretary, Dr Sam Gulube.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu testified that during this meeting, Mapisa-Nqakula confirmed making the requests. The pair allegedly agreed to handle future communications regarding money privately, using code names such as “indumba” and “impepho”.

She met Mapisa-Nqakula for a second time in July 2017, when she allegedly delivered R200,000 in cash to Mapisa-Nqakula’s Bruma home after surviving an attempted armed robbery in Spruitview. Despite her injuries, she said, she proceeded with the delivery that evening.

She was driven by her husband, retired Maj-Gen Noel Ndhlovu, who remained in the car while she entered the house with a bag. Ndhlovu also testified that he drove his wife to the former minister’s home that evening, though he claimed he only learnt the true nature of the meeting a month later.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu alleged that when she handed over the money, Mapisa-Nqakula brushed off her injuries and accepted the cash. She further testified to a third meeting in November 2017, where Mapisa-Nqakula mentioned her terminally ill father and requested R150,000 to hire a night nurse for him.

At the time, there was nothing that made me think she had a grudge, until now ... These court proceedings have helped me realise there was an issue.

Mapisa-Nqakula denied ever soliciting or receiving money from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, offering a starkly different account of their encounters.

“What Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu told the court is her version and not mine,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.

She testified that during their first meeting, the two bonded over their shared calling as traditional healers, maintaining that no financial requests were discussed.

She explained that the purpose of the meeting was to address complaints Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu had regarding mistreatment by the department, though they ultimately did not discuss the issue. When asked why the primary topic was avoided, Mapisa-Nqakula said she expected Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu to bring it up, as she had requested the meeting.

“I didn’t receive money from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, and I never sent Gulube to request money from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu on my behalf.