By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe launched an urgent bid to interdict law enforcement authorities from arresting her on corruption charges – and claims there is “no case” against her.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s urgent legal action against the State follows a search and seizure raid that was carried out by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate on her home on Tuesday, on the basis of a warrant that was issued eight days before.
According to Mapisa-Nqakula, she was not given access to the supporting affidavit used to justify the search and seizure warrant, further claiming that investigators subsequently entered her home without her consent.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s court papers request the disclosure of all material information relating to the case against her, including the entire docket, to prepare her defence.
She had earlier this morning reported to the Pretoria Central Police Station and was expected appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Fullview has reported that Mapisa-Nqakula, will be charged with corruption and money laundering after her arrest, which was expected on Friday.
“A draft indictment has been prepared, and she will be charged with corruption and money laundering after receiving more than R4 million from a businessman. She has agreed to hand herself to the police [ in Pretoria], where she will be arrested and taken to court to be charged,” a source said.
Our source added that, the state will have a strong case against her once indicted, including phone records of her conversations with the defense contractor.
During her time as a minister of Defence, Mapisa-Nqakula allegedly made several demands for money, from the owner of a company to secure a tender to transport army equipment back to South Africa.
The accusations against Mapisa-Nqakula were made in a sworn affidavit submitted to the Investigative Directorate by Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the owner of Umkhombe Marine.
The freight and logistics company reportedly scored R210 million in SANDF tenders in 2019, while the businesswoman was married to the military health services’ deputy surgeon-general, Noel Ndhlovu.
Umkhombe Marine transported SANDF cargo across the continent to military missions.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyer, Stephen May, said whether his client would hand herself over to police was “under consideration”.
“But litigation is expected in the circumstances.”
The news of her imminent arrest came on the same day that Parliament announced that Mapisa-Nqakula would be leading a delegation to an Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
But Mapisa-Nqakula said she would not be attending the “long-planned” trip.
May also confirmed this, saying that she would remain in the country, adding that “any media reports to the contrary that she is going are false”.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance (DA) has tabled a formal motion of no confidence against embattled National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula who announced on Thursday that she had taken special leave.
A debate on the motion of no confidence could take place as early as next week.
DA Deputy Chief Whip, Dr Annelie Lotriet, says the speaker should step down to protect the integrity of Parliament.