Hawks search speaker’s home after graft claim

The Hawks, acting on behalf of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) Investigative Directorate (ID), confirmed it searched the home of parliamentary speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, in Johannesburg yesterday.

A number of official vehicles were seen at Mapisa-Nqakula’s home.

The Hawks’ raid follows an investigation into allegations that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited and received at least R2.3 million in cash from a former military contractor during her tenure as defence minister.

NPA spokesperson advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said: “The National Prosecuting Authority’s ID confirms that a search and seizure operation was carried out at the home of speaker of parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula by members of the ID on 19 March 2024, relating to an investigation against her.

“The NPA’s ID will not be making any further comment.”

Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said: “The speaker steadfastly upholds her strong conviction of innocence, and reaffirms that she has nothing to hide. In line with this, she has welcomed investigators into her home, cooperating fully during the search that lasted over five hours.”

Mothapo added that Mapisa-Nqakula is “disturbed” by the allegation. “Corruption poses a significant threat to the principles of democracy and good governance and fundamentally contradicts everything the speaker represents. Therefore, she is profoundly disturbed by such allegations.”

The accusations against Mapisa-Nqakula were reportedly made in a sworn affidavit submitted to the ID by Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, the owner of Umkhombe Marine. The freight and logistics company reportedly scored R210 million in SA National Defence Force tenders in 2019, while the businesswoman was married to the military health services’ deputy surgeon-general, Noel Ndhlovu.

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu reportedly revealed in her affidavit that she gave bundles of cash to Mapisa-Mqakula on 10 occasions between November 2016 and July 2019.

The alleged bribes were allegedly facilitated by the late secretary of defence, Sam Gulube, who allegedly summoned Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu to his home twice, according to the affidavit.

Umkhombe Marine transported SANDF cargo across the continent to military missions.