Home renovation documents found during an Investigating Directorate (ID) raid on speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's Johannesburg home appear to be crucial in the case against her.
A source who has been involved in the investigation revealed the documents, taken from the study at Mapisa-Nqakula’s house in Bruma during Tuesday's raid, included contractor invoices and receipts which showed the renovations were paid for with cash.
The quantum of the invoices was not too far from the amount defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu alleged was solicited by the former defence minister, the source said.
“The critical thing is that she will have to explain and prove the source of the cash paid to the contractors. The money cannot have fallen from the sky,” said the insider, who cannot be named as they are prohibited from discussing cases in public
The discovery of the documents appear to be the reason for the swift action after the raid.
It comes as speculation was high that Mapisa-Nqakula was set to hand herself to authorities on Friday, three days after the search and seizure operation at her home. The Mail & Guardian reported on Thursday that the arrest was in connection with the criminal investigation.
Adding fuel to speculation last night was the speaker’s announcement that she is taking leave from her position to “protect the integrity of parliament and ensure its sacred duty and name continue unblemished.
“Consequently, therefore, I will also not be attending the long planned 148th Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly taking place in Geneva, Switzerland‚”
She said she has communicated her decision to take special leave to the ANC.
“My lawyers have, however, proactively informed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of my readiness to comply and cooperate should the need arise.”
The ID said it would not comment further on the raid beyond the press statement issued by the NPA. In the statement the NPA’s advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said: “The National Prosecuting Authority's ID confirms a search and seizure operation was carried out at the home of speaker of parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula by members of the ID on March 19 2024 relating to an investigation against her”.
You would realise that arrest and detention, even for a very short time, and going into the dock is quite a drastic incursion into a person’s rights, and obviously we want to make sure my client’s rights are not infringed more than it is absolutely necessary
— Stephen May, speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyer
The alleged proof that Mapisa-Nqakula had access to large sums of cash seems to back claims by defence contractor Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu that the speaker received up to R2.3m in cash bribes as payment for department of defence contracts.
Mapisa-Nqakula was minister of defence at the time.
Three weeks ago the Sunday Times reported that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu had struck an agreement with the NPA to cooperate in the investigation in return for possible immunity.
Last year, she gave a sworn statement detailing up to 10 transactions, between November 2016 and July 2019, and provided WhatsApp conversations, recordings of her meetings with Mapisa-Nqakula and bank documentation showing the large withdrawals.
TimesLIVE Premium understands that though Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu allegedly paid the former minister more than R2.3m, the contractor was told to only speak about amounts for which she had proof.
In her affidavit she recalled how the two discussed the ongoing renovations at the speaker's house and how costs for this were beyond what was expected.
“She then drew my attention through the window and I saw workers standing. It appeared as if they had just finished working. She told me she could not pay the workers for painting her house because she was left with R6,000 in her bank account,” Ntsondwa-Ndlhovu said.
Speaking to TimesLIVE Premium on Thursday night, Mapisa-Nqakula's lawyer, Stephen May, said handing herself over to law enforcement was “under consideration” and “litigation [between Mapisa-Nqakula and the ID] appears likely”.
“You would realise that arrest and detention, even for a very short time, and going into the dock is quite a drastic incursion into a person’s rights, and obviously we want to make sure my client’s rights are not infringed more than it is absolutely necessary,” he said.
“We respect the NPA and the police, and the functions they have to carry out, but we will not unnecessarily waive or give away rights my client has.”
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