Commotion allegedly errupted between the police and Charles Nqakula, the husband of the speaker of parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, when he tried to block them from searching her indumba, a sacred sangoma’s hut, during the raid at the couple’s residence this week.
Armed with a search-and-seizure warrant, members of the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate (ID) swooped on Mapisa-Nqakula’s home in Bruma, east of Johannesburg on Tuesday, looking to seize incriminating documents and items believed to be proceeds of crime.
The raid followed claims by businesswoman Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu that she paid Mapisa-Nqakula R2.3-million in bribes when she was minister of defence between 2016 and 2019.
According to a source, who did not want to be named, Nqakula, prevented the cops from entering the hut, arguing that they were not “pure enough” to set foot in the sacred outbuilding.
The ID members wanted to search it after going through the double storey house with a list of items they were looking for, including a bear skin “with claws”, designer handbags and expensive wigs.
Relating the incident, a cop who did not want to be named, said Nqakula put up a spirited fight against the cops the minute they descended on the property.
The witness said a fierce argument erupted between Nqakula, 81, and the cops when he intially refused them entry to his house but his wife defused the tension.
“When the cops arrived here on Tuesday, Mdala (Nqakula) told the police at the gate (police guards) that they should not open the gate for them. He was very angry and asked the cops (ID members) if they knew who he was.
“The old man was very angry, and he came to the gate to block it himself. The police guards at the gate had to get backup as they didn’t know how to handle the situation,” said our mole.
The situation denegerated when the cops, after searching the main house, wanted to get into Mapisa-Nqakula’s indumba on the premises. The speaker is a sangoma.
Nqakula, a former minister of police, made it clear that they would not be allowed in the hut.
“Those guys got into the house and searched everywhere but when they tried to move into the backyard, where the indumba for Nosiviwe is located, the old man blocked the door telling the cops that they were not pure enough to set their foot in the room. There was a commotion at the entrance of the indumba,” said our source.
The search team is said to also had a tough time searching the house, as the couple followed them everywhere they went.
“Mama Nosiviwe was forever on the phone during the search, while Bro Charles was busy questioning the motive of the search. It was messy,” the insider said. “Since the raid, Bro Charles does not trust anyone anymore. He is very vigilant and does the rounds as if he is a security guard himself.
“There are rooms in the house that people are no longer allowed to enter, and the cameras are now monitored by the madam’s trusted people and the police guards have no access to the camera monitor any longer,” said the insider.
Mapisa-Nqakula was reportedly arrested and detained at the Pretoria Central Prison on Friday but the ID rubbished the reports as unfounded.
When contacted for comment regarding the commotion that had happened during the raid, Mapisa-Nqakula said: “No, may I please not respond to you? I asked not to say what had happened. I will speak at the appropriate time. Please respect that.”
Dlamini was surprised that she was seen at the Nqakula’s house, saying her visit was not a stunt but a genuine move to support a fellow female comrade. She said she was impressed by the strength that Mapisa-Nqakula showed for someone facing such difficulty.
She appealed to everyone to allow the law to take its course and not subject Mapisa-Nqakula to the court of public opinion and kangaroo courts.
“Nosiviwe is strong, and she is also surprised by what is happening to her. I realised that she was ready to face the storm that was coming. I don’t want to share my views on what is happening to her.
Nosiviwe must be given an opportunity, and she is innocent until proven guilty. I went there to give her moral support, as she is one of our own. We do not support one another only when we are happy, but we do support each other during difficult times. As you know, I also had difficult times before, and Nosiviwe supported me big time,” said Dlamini.
Mokonyane did answer her phone; however, we could not speak to her as she was in the ANC election campaign in the Dr. Kenneth Kauda Region, North West. Nqakula’s three phones were all switched off.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s indumba is a rondavel with a thatch roof, and it is located at the back of the mansion.
The neighbours whom Sunday World spoke to stated that they were not interested to say anything as they would be accused of gossiping about the family that has political power.
“Whatever is happening in that house is not our business. We do not want to be seen talking to you, as that will put us in trouble. We don’t want to be accused of being gossipmongers.
Nosiviwe and Ntate Charles are very powerful and reserved, so I don’t want to say anything about them. I am sorry; I won’t say much about them,” said a neighbour who asked not to be named.
