Parliament Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula’s home raided by SAPS investigators
The NPA’s Investigating Directorate confirmed that the five-hour raid was in connection with corruption allegations related to Mapisa-Nqakula
The Hawks have raided the house of the speaker of the parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, over corruption allegations.
Mapisa-Nqakula was accused of taking bribes in return for awarding contracts when she was serving as the defence minister.
SAPS RAIDS MAPISA-NQAKULA HOME
The police unit according to BBC News was acting on behalf of the state prosecutors who were carrying out the case.
Parliament’s statement mentioned that the police conducted a search and seizure at Mapisa-Nqakula’s home. She welcomed the investigators and cooperated fully during the five-hour search.
An X post by @AndiMakinana posted that the search took up to 5 hours at the Mapisa-Nqakula residence.
“The search at the Speaker’s home lasted over five hours.
This morning’s events have inevitably interrupted the Speaker’s parliamentary diary, including her role in presiding over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s question-and-answer session in the National Assembly.” – Parliament wrote @AndiMakinana.
NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA IN THE DEFENCE FORCE
According to BBC News, Mapisa-Nqakula served in the defence force as minister for nine years.
The speaker was accused of accepting bribes worth R2 million bribes from Nombasa Ndhlovu, who was at the time working in the military logistics industry and married to a general in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The Citizen reported that Ndhlovu made ten payments to Mapisa-Nqakula while she was Minister of Defence, totalling R2.3 million between November 2016 and July 2019.
In an affidavit, Ndhlovu stated that Mapisa-Nqakula made multiple requests for cash, initially through the late Secretary of Defense, Dr. Sam Gulube, and later directly.
Ndhlovu’s affidavit revealed that the initial request and payment of cash bribes from Mapisa-Nqakula occurred through Gulube in November 2016, when he informed her that the minister had asked for R300,000.
The Sunday Times reported that an investigation into Mapisa-Nqakula began six months ago.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s spokesperson, Mike Ramagoma, said she “maintains her innocence” and will cooperate with investigators.