By Johnathan Paoli
Former Defence Minister and National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption trial has been postponed to next Wednesday after she failed to appear in court due to ill health.
Appearing in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Thursday morning, Mapisa-Nqakula’s advocate, Siyabulela Mapoma, told the court she had consulted a doctor and had a medical certificate confirming that she was unable to attend proceedings.
“[T]he accused is not before court today. I have a medical report…. The state has been given a copy. The medical report is dated 9 September, and it states the medical condition, and it also tells us the date on which she is expected to be fit, I suppose, to come to work or to attend trial,” Mapoma said.
“In the circumstances, I apply that the matter be postponed to next week on Wednesday, which is the 16th of September,” he added.
The State did not oppose the postponement, but the court noted that Mapisa-Nqakula’s absence meant that a warrant of arrest had to be authorised.
Mapoma asked the court to suspend execution of the warrant until next Wednesday.
He also asked that her bail be extended until the matter returns to court.
Judge Mashudu Munzhelele granted the postponement and extended Mapisa-Nqakula’s bail until 16 September.
She also authorised the J23 warrant, but held it in suspension until that date, meaning it can be executed if Mapisa-Nqakula fails to appear when the trial resumes.
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Mapisa-Nqakula is facing 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering stemming from allegations that she solicited about R4.5 million in bribes and benefits from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019.
The State alleges that about R2.1 million was paid to Mapisa-Nqakula in cash.
She has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denies soliciting or receiving bribes.
The former National Assembly speaker returned to the witness stand this week after Munzhelele on Monday dismissed her Section 174 application – in which she asked to be acquitted because she claimed the State had not produced sufficient evidence to make a case against her.
But the judge found that the State had established a prima facie case against Mapisa-Nqakula, meaning she had a case to answer and the trial should proceed.
Her testimony was interrupted on Wednesday when she became unwell while giving evidence-in-chief.
She appeared increasingly uncomfortable as questioning continued and, at one point, had to be assisted while she remained seated in the courtroom.
After the lunch adjournment, proceedings were halted for the day mtco Mapoma informed the court that his client was rsodiv to continue.
Mapoma later told the media that she was tired and receiving medical attention.
