Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has officially submitted a request for taxpayers to foot her legal bill in the corruption case she’s facing.
In a media statement on Monday (22 April), Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise confirmed receiving Mapisa-Nqakula’s request for the Department of Defence to assist her in legal representation.
The former Speaker has been charged with corruption and money laundering. The state alleges that she solicited and received kickbacks from a defence contractor between 2016 and 2019 when she was Defence Minister. She denies the charges.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s request for taxpayer funding
Mapisa-Nqakula made her request through the office of Head of Legal Service in the South African National Defence Force, Major General Eric Mnisi, the Department said.
Mnisi “then actioned it prior to seeking counsel from either the Minister nor the Secretary for Defence, Dr Thobekile Gamede, who is also the accounting officer, particularly on matters that have financial implications on the department,” the Department added.
“General Mnisi’s handling of the matter without following existing protocols is tantamount to disrespect of executive authority in the Department of Defence.”
Modise added, “I have instructed the Secretary for Defence, Dr Gamede, to look into General Mnisi’s handling of the matter from an administrative and process point of view as there are protocols that must be followed for such requests.”
She said she “is currently applying her mind” on Mapisa-Nqakula’s request “and will subject it to the prescripts of the law with the view of protecting public funds.”
Mapisa-Nqakula, who resigned from her position as Speaker in the wake of the allegations, is out on R50,000 bail. Her case was postponed until 4 June 2024.