Majavu, Holomisa not slated to testify against Mapisa-Nqakula
THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) admitted that they have shared a list of witnesses with the former Speaker’s defence attorney, as prescribed by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
However, it remains unclear if the leaked list is an authenticated one as two of the witness have denied that they were part of the witnesses that were expected to testify against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
Speaking with the publication yesterday, Investigating Directorate (ID) spokesperson Henry Mamothame said: “The list was shared with the defence team, as per the court’s ruling, based on her bail conditions that she should not have any direct or indirect contact with the State’s witnesses. No further disclosures were made, other than this one.”
On the validity of the list, the ID spokesperson did not want to be drawn into whether the leaked list was legitimate, adding that everything would be revealed in court.
This comes after legal maestro Zola Majavu denied being a State witness in the case.
UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa, whose name also appeared on the list, confirmed that he had not been approached by the prosecution to be a State witness.
“They have not (approached me) but it’s automatic that a person who laid a complaint is a witness,” he explained.
He reminded all the publications that he tabled the report to the joint standing committee on defence in 2021, when both Cyril Xaba, committee chairperson, and Mapisa-Nqakula said if he had evidence of alleged corruption against her, he should report it to the police.
“I followed her advice by co-operating with the police investigation. Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m one of the witnesses.”
There were reports over the weekend suggesting that the NPA had lined up 17 witnesses to testify against Mapisa-Nqakula, who has been charged with corruption.
The State witness list also included three former SANDF generals: Derrick Mgwebi, Gerald Sizani, and Noel Ndlhovu.
Ndlhovu is the husband of the State’s star witness, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndlhovu, who was offered Section 204, and she is second on the witness list that was provided to Mapisa-Nqakula this week, and seen by a Sunday paper.
The list also included her former spokesperson, Joy Peter.
The former Speaker is accused of receiving bribes in cash to the tune of R4.5 million and other gifts, including expensive wigs from SANDF contractors, while she was a the defence minister between June, 2012, and August, 2021.
The matter was postponed to June 4.