Speaker Refutes Claims, Vows Full Cooperation

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the Speaker of the National Assembly, has denied allegations of corruption during her tenure as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. The Sunday Times published an explosive exposé accusing Mapisa-Nqakula of accepting bribes totalling R2.3 million from a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) contractor.

In a statement released on Monday, Mapisa-Nqakula expressed her surprise at learning about the investigation through media reports. “It is a concern that we have an investigation done by the law enforcement agency, which she heard for the first time through the media,” stated her spokesperson, Mike Ramagoma.

According to the Sunday Times report, a high-level probe has been launched into accusations that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited and received up to R2.3 million in cash payments, allegedly delivered in gift bags by Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, a businesswoman married to a general in the SANDF’s military health services.

Ramagoma emphasized Mapisa-Nqakula’s willingness to cooperate fully with investigators, asserting, “She will be available and cooperate with the investigators, and then we will know what is true.”  The Speaker has maintained her innocence amid the serious allegations.