The National Prosecuting Authority has lined up 17 witnesses to testify against embattled former speaker of parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who has been charged with corruption.
Top legal eagle Zola Majavu and UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, who tops the list, are among popular witnesses to testify against her. Three former South African National Defence Force generals, Derrick Mgwebi, Gerald Sizani and Noel Ndlhovu, are also listed as witnesses.
Ndlhovu is the husband of the state star witness, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndlhovu, who was offered Section 204, and she is second on the witness list that was provided to Mapisa-Nqakula this week and seen by Sunday World.
The list of 17 state witnesses, which was delivered to her last week, includes her former spokesperson, Joy Peter, and celebrity lawyer Majavu, who is also the chairman of the Premier Soccer League’s disciplinary committee, among others. Majavu is the former legal representative of Mapisa-Nqakula.
Other witnesses include Moira Granny Seape, who is number three on the list, Simphiwe Damane-Mkosana, number five on the list, Andiswa Vivian Ntsondwa-Joyi, number seven on the list, Thabiso Mthinya, number eight on the list, Lillia Ndhlovu, number nine on the list, Azwindini Emmanuel Mulaudzi, number 12 on the list, Nomsa Shabangu, number 13 on the list, Michael Mongezi, number 16 on the list and Zolile Maleke, who is number 17 on the list.
Sunday World understands the state might possibly add more witnesses to the list as police investigations continue.
The former speaker is accused of receiving bribes in hard cash to the tune of R4.5-million and other gifts, including expensive wigs from SANDF contractors, while she was a minister of defence between June 2012 and August 2021.
Ntsondwa-Ndlhovu submitted an explosive affidavit to the law enforcement agencies in which she confessed to bribing Mapisa-Nqakula with R2.5-million in 11 different payments.
Ntsondwa-Ndlhovu’s company, Umkhombe Marine, received contracts worth about R210-million during Mapisa-Nqakula’s tenure at defence.
Mapisa-Nqakula was forced to resign as the speaker of parliament on April 3, when it was made public that Ntso-ndwa-Ndlhovu submitted an affidavit implicating her in accepting bribes.
The former speaker then lost her high court bid not to be “embarrassed” by being arrested, and she was forced to turn herself in at the Lyttelton police station in Centurion last Thursday.
She also appeared before magistrate Anna Oosthuizen at the Pretoria magistrate’s court on the same day, where she was charged with 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering. She was released on R50 000 bail.
Speaking to Sunday World on Friday, Holomisa said that he was not surprised that he is number one on the list of witnesses against Mapisa-Nqakula, as he is the one who opened the criminal case against her.
“I simply followed Nosiviwe’s instructions; she publicly said if I have any evidence or information about her alleged corruption, I must report it to the nearest police station,” Holomisa said.
He said he was ready to testify against the former speaker at any time.
“Nosiviwe thought I was bluffing, and now we are seeing the proof,” he added.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyer, Stephen May, couldn’t be reached for comment.
