By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, was back in court facing charges of 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering.
Mapisa-Nqakula stands accused of receiving more than R2 million in bribes from a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) contractor during her tenure as defence minister.
The former speaker reportedly received the bribes between December 2016 and July 2019.
Mapisa-Nqakula unsuccessfully attempted to block her arrest, with the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria dismissing her interdict application on 2 April.
The case was previously postponed following the defence’s request to access Section B and C of the police docket.
Mapisa-Nqakula has challenged the state’s evidence-gathering process, arguing that these sections could play a critical role in her defence.
The state, however, has opposed the application, maintaining that Sections B and C were confidential and will not be used during the trial.
A docket typically contains three sections: Section A holds witness statements, expert reports, and documentary evidence; Section B includes internal reports and memoranda; and Section C contains the investigation diary.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, state prosecutor Bheki Manyathi revealed that the state received the defence’s heads of arguments earlier in the week.
Due to the extensive documentation submitted, Manyathi requested a postponement.
“The state is not ready to argue the matter,” he stated.
Meanwhile Advocate Reginald Willis — representing Mapisa-Nqakula — informed Judge Mokhine “Papi” Mosopa that his client intended to apply for relaxed bail conditions to allow her to travel abroad.
“Our client does wish to travel out of the country in Africa. Her passport that’s handed in is a diplomatic passport so she will be making an application, “said Willis.
However, Manyathi clarified that Mapisa-Nqakula no longer held diplomatic status.
“She’s going to need to apply for a normal passport through the Department of Home Affairs. What we need as the state is an affidavit because it has legal consequences, “Manyathi explained.
The state also requested detailed information about her travel plans, including the intended destination and accommodation address.
“I understand she wants to travel to Botswana because we do, as the state authority, through Interpol, do a check on the details provided.
“Once we have done our due diligence through Interpol, if we are happy with the details provided, we then approach a judge in chambers by arrangement and an order relaxing the bail conditions is granted unopposed,” said Manyathi.
The state and defence counsel have agreed to postpone the matter to 20 January 2025. Judge Mosopa granted the postponement.