In 2024, high-ranking politicians were arrested, including former Speaker of Parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, former Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gigi Kodwa, and former African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson and ANC NEC member Pulu Mabe. .
All three politicians who found themselves on the wrong side of the law were arrested on corruption and bribery charges related to kickbacks on government contracts.
But a different story will be told when all three politicians end up on the wrong side of the law.
Mapisa Nqakula
Mr Mapisa-Nqakula first faced the wrath of the law. She faces corruption allegations during her tenure as defense minister.
She is alleged to have requested and received a bribe of R2.3 million.
State prosecutor Bheki Manyati read out the charges in the Pretoria Magistrates Court.
“Your adoration, the charges against Mrs. Mapisa Nqakula are 12 counts of corruption under Preca (Section 12 of the Anti-Corruption and Corrupt Practices Act 2004) and money laundering under POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act 2002). 1. It is common cause that charges are formed within the range of 5 prescribed under the Criminal Procedure Code, and the onus is on the applicant to present evidence to the satisfaction of this court. .”
She is scheduled to return to court in January 2025 after a further postponement in December.
Meanwhile, her legal representative Willis Reginald has said he will apply to the Pretoria High Court to have bail conditions relaxed.
Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula |Case adjourned until January 2025:
Jiji Koda
While South Africans are still reeling from the news of Mapisa Nqakula's arrest, Mr Kodwa, along with co-accused former EOH executive, Jehan McKay will also be arrested.
Mr Kodwa was also charged under the Prevention of Organized Crime Act for allegedly soliciting bribes worth R1.7 million.
“This is in violation of Article 3 of the Prevention and Combination of Corrupt Practices Act 2004 read with the relevant provisions. Lord, on page 8 the following charges are further made: This is a violation of Section 4 read with Section 11 of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act. The State submitted that the preferred charges against both defendants fall within the scope of Schedule 5.
Kodwa can now breathe a sigh of relief as the charges have been dropped.
He has said he will return to the ANC after resigning as minister of sport, arts and culture.
Kodwa Corruption Case | Kodwa welcomes the withdrawal of charges.
Puru Mabe
Maeve was arrested in October along with six accomplices. They were charged with 16 counts of fraud, money laundering and breaches of the Public Finance Management Act.
This was for a contract to supply the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with 200 waste management tricycles for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Mabe made his first appearance at Palm Ridge Magistrates Court along with his co-defendants and vehemently denied all charges.
“While I acknowledge that the charges leveled against me are serious, I deny that I am guilty of any of the charges or that I committed any of the acts alleged in the indictment. If I were to go to trial, I am absolutely certain that I would not be found guilty of any of the charges against me.I have no intention of fleeing across the South African border in any way. But I submit that I have no intention of trying to evade justice.”
The case against Maeve and his co-defendants was adjourned until February next year.
Pule Mabe responded to the fraud claims with the following:
