Former South African Defence Minister Accused of Seeking Bribe for ‘Padkos’Money Pretoria, South Africa – The trial of former South African Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has taken a significant turn as a witness in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria revealed that Mapisa-Nqakula demanded a substantial sum of money, reportedly R250,000, for ‘padkos’money, a term for travel expenses in South African languages.
The allegations stem from the testimony of Nombasa Ntsondwa — Ndhlovu, the sole director of logistics company Umkhombe Marine. Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who was under an indemnity agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, stated that she paid Mapisa-Nqakula hundreds of thousands of rands after winning a R79 million contract.
The court heard that Mapisa — Nqakula requested these sums and later proposed using coded language when discussing money. Mapisa-Nqakula’s suspended R104 million SANDF contract was replaced with the R79 million contract in question.
The trial revolves around allegations of corruption, including the misuse of government contracts and demands for bribes.
News24 reported that the former Speaker of the National Assembly and Defence Minister is standing trial for demanding R250,000 for ‘padkos’money, which is a term for travel expenses in South African languages.
The Daily Maverick highlighted that the court heard the allegations through the testimony of Ntsondwa — Ndhlovu, who was under an indemnity agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
The credibility of the story is bolstered by multiple sources including News24, Daily Maverick, and Citizen, which are reputable news outlets.
The information provided is detailed and includes specific factual findings.
However, some details, such as the exact nature of the coded language and the full context of the contracts, are not fully elaborated upon in the sources provided.
The trial has implications for South Africa’s defense sector and political landscape, as Mapisa-Nqakula served as both the Speaker of the National Assembly and Defence Minister.
The allegations of corruption and misuse of government contracts could have significant implications for the country’s defense procurement processes and its international standing.
As the trial progresses, it will be crucial to monitor how the court handles the evidence and whether Mapisa — Nqakula is found guilty of the charges against her.
The outcome of the trial could have far — reaching effects on South Africa’s political and defense sectors, as well as on the perception of the country’s integrity in international circles.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Google News v2
