Mapisa-Nqakula testifies in corruption trial

Former Defence Minister and National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is continuing her testimony in a Pretoria corruption and money-laundering trial. Proceedings were temporarily halted on Wednesday after Mapisa-Nqakula requested medical assistance, citing exhaustion. Her legal team indicated her return to the witness stand on Thursday would depend on her medical fitness, after which the State is expected to cross-examine her. Mapisa-Nqakula faces allegations that she solicited bribes from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. She has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering, denying she received any money from the businesswoman. Central to the trial are disputed accounts of a wig allegedly delivered to Mapisa-Nqakula at OR Tambo International Airport and renovations at her home. The State alleges that a wig delivered to Mapisa-Nqakula at the airport concealed R300,000 in cash. Mapisa-Nqakula, however, testified that the item was an actual hairpiece she had admired and requested from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu.