Episode Details

The corruption trial of former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has begun, with her denying all 12 charges of bribery and money laundering. Prosecutors allege she solicited over four million rand in bribes from defence contractor Umkhombe Marine between 2016 and 2019, using coded WhatsApp messages like “impepho” and “wig” to request cash. Key moments include a 79-million-rand contract followed by the first payment request, and a later 2-million-rand demand tied to a 100-million-rand deal. A dramatic allegation: she allegedly visited the contractor at her home under the pretense of an ancestral message to secure a promotion for the contractor’s husband — and only 150,000 rand was handed over. The case was initially triggered by the UDM leader, now Deputy Defence Minister, and the contractor is set to testify, claiming she was coerced into the scheme.

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