Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula seeks to have R4.5 million corruption charges dropped, SA questions her bid

Former Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is attempting to shut down the corruption and money-laundering case against her. Her legal representatives approached the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday, 13 August 2026, requesting a discharge of the charges.

The veteran politician currently faces 12 counts of corruption and a single count of money laundering. These charges stem from allegations that she received R4.5 million in kickbacks from a defence contractor between 2016 and 2019.

The Strategy for Discharge

Advocate Siyabulela Mapoma SC informed the court that the defence plans to launch a Section 174 application. If the judge grants this, Mapisa-Nqakula would be found not guilty immediately, without her team needing to call a single witness or present their own evidence.

The defence argues that the prosecution’s case is too weak to sustain a conviction. They believe that even after 16 state witnesses have testified, the evidence presented is insufficient for any reasonable court to find her guilty.

Allegations of Cash and Renovations

The state’s case revolves around claims that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited millions from Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. Prosecutors have suggested that part of this money, including over R2 million in cash, was used to fund private home improvements.

The trial is currently waiting for full transcripts of the testimony provided by the state's witnesses. Once these documents are secured, the defence will finalise their legal arguments to justify the dismissal of the case.

Public and Political Fallout

The move to have the case dropped has sparked a wave of skepticism on social media. Many South Africans have voiced their frustration at what they perceive as an attempt to avoid accountability for the massive sums involved.

Even within her own political circles, support appears to be thin. The ANC Women's League has distanced itself from Mapisa-Nqakula, citing the party's ongoing 'renewal agenda' as the reason for not standing by the former minister during her legal battles.

The court has postponed the matter until 20 August 2026. This window allows the defence time to review the court records before officially arguing for Mapisa-Nqakula's release.