A state witness has told the High Court in Pretoria that former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband, Charles Nqakula, gave her between R1.7 million and R1.8 million to renovate and decorate their Johannesburg home.
On Tuesday the state called two contractors Emmanuel Mulaudzi who completed the building plan for the renovations and Nomsa Shabangu who led the renovations and decorations.
Shabangu described Mapisa-Nqakula as being “like a sister” and she explained how she managed the renovation of the former defence minister’s Johannesburg home.
She told the court that while she oversaw the project and paid several service providers, some payments made in cash were made directly by Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband. Among those she appointed was architectural designer Azwindini Mulaudzi, who drew up revised plans for the property. Shabangu testified that she paid Mulaudzi a R20,000 cash deposit.
Mulaudzi, who testified earlier, confirmed receiving the cash deposit from Shabangu. He also told the court that the outstanding R50,000 was later paid in cash by Nosiviwe and Charles Nqakula in 2018.
During cross-examination, Mapisa-Nqakula’s legal team acknowledged that Shabangu and the former minister had known each other since 2014 and had developed a relationship akin to family.
Mapisa-Nqakula is facing 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. The charges stem from allegations by defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndlovu, who has admitted paying the former minister R2.1 million in several instalments.
Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty and denies receiving any payments from Ntsondwa-Ndlovu.
Shabangu is expected to return to the witness stand on Wednesday for further cross-examination.
