PRETORIA - A new state witness in former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption trial has given a different account of events, contradicting the main witness.
Former Defence Force VIP driver Thabang Mathinya testified that he dropped businesswoman Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndlovu at an airport hotel and not at the Defence VIP Lounge, where she claims she handed Mapisa-Nqakula a R300,000 bribe disguised as a wig.
Mapisa-Nqakula admits she accepted a hairpiece from Ntsondwa-Ndlovu in 2019, but strongly denies taking a bribe.
Ntsondwa-Ndlovu tells a completely different story.
She claims "wig" was a code word for cash, insisting she gave Mapisa-Nqakula R300,000 at the Defence VIP Lounge at OR Tambo International Airport.
But that accusation is already cracking.
Mathinya, the driver who accompanied Ntsondwa-Ndlovu testified that he dropped her off at a hotel that day, contradicting her airport VIP lounge story.
Mapisa-Nqakula has denied demanding bribes and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
eNCA's Manqoba Mchunu reports in the video above.
DStv Channel 403
Friday, 31 July 2026
