PRETORIA – Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula appeared in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday seeking to modify bail conditions to obtain a new passport for travel to Botswana, as her corruption case faces another delay.
The court postponed her case to January 20 after prosecutors requested more time to review extensive legal documents submitted by her defense team, including 133 pages of arguments referencing 128 court cases and eight legal publications.
State prosecutor Bheki Manyathi explained that Mapisa-Nqakula must provide a detailed travel itinerary and submit to Interpol verification before any bail modification can be approved. Her diplomatic passport, surrendered as part of initial bail conditions, is now invalid following her departure from public office.
The former speaker faces 12 corruption charges and one money laundering charge stemming from her tenure as defense minister. Prosecutors allege she received R2 million in kickbacks after attempting to solicit more than R4 million from a defense contractor.
“The applicant filed heads of argument on Monday of 133 pages,” Manyathi told the court. “The state said on Tuesday it would have been unlikely to have read it all and argue the matter today.”
Her legal team’s recent filing for additional disclosure of evidence has further complicated proceedings. The state cited the comprehensive nature of these submissions as grounds for the delay to ensure proper review of all materials.
Regarding the passport application process, Manyathi outlined strict verification requirements. “Through Interpol, we do a check on the details provided. Once we have done our due diligence and are happy with the details provided, we approach the judge in chambers,” he explained.
The case has drawn significant attention as one of several high-profile corruption investigations involving former South African government officials. Mapisa-Nqakula’s tenure as defense minister from 2012 to 2021 is under particular scrutiny.
For any bail modification to proceed, she must submit an affidavit detailing her travel plans, including specific dates, destinations, and accommodation arrangements in Botswana. The state reserves the right to oppose the application if their investigation raises any concerns.
