Mapisa-Nqakula accused of meddling with R104m tender on behalf of contractor

JOHANNESBURG - Former defence minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has been accused of meddling with a R104 million tender on behalf of a contractor. 

This is contained in an indictment that was served to her when she appeared at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, on charges of corruption and money laundering.

It’s alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula was roped in to use her political influence to unlock a suspended contract. 

In February 2016, Umkhombe Marine was awarded a defence logistics contract worth R104 million. 

A few days later, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) suspended the contract for reasons still unknown.
 
After the suspension, the director of Umkhombe, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, contacted the Defence Minister at the time, Mapisa-Nqakula, for help.

The State alleges that Mapisa-Nqakula agreed to help the businesswoman in exchange for R4.5 million. 

Between December 2016 and July 2019, the State alleges that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu would meet Mapisa-Nqakula or her intermediaries at several locations around Gauteng and there would be an exchange of cash. 

In total, the State said that Ntsonwa-Ndhlovu paid Mapisa-Nqakula R2.1 million in cash.