Mapisa-Nqakula denies wig was code for R300k bribe in corruption trial

Mapisa – Nqakula returned to the witness stand today, where she has been testifying in her defence. The gifting of a wig has taken center stage in the corruption trial against former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. She's facing 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering for allegedly soliciting corrupt payments from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. One of the allegations against Mapisa- Nqakula is that in 2018 she sent Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu a message asking for a wig, which was actually code for R300,000. During her testimony, Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu said she delivered the wig at the O.R Tambo International Airport months later, and when she handed it to the former minister, it was used to conceal the cash. However, Mapisa -Nqakula denied this, saying that she had seen Ntsondwa–Ndhlovu wearing the wig at an event in 2018 and she liked it, and when she asked where she could buy it, it was Ntsondwa–Ndhlovu who offered to buy it for her. Mapisa – Nqakula insisted that she needed the wig for her trip to Ethiopia, and that's why she sent Ntsondwa – Ndhlovu two follow-up messages about the wig 'In the message I sent, I was asking if she got the wig, where can I get it, because I still had the opportunity to buy myself a wig,' she said. Mapisa-Nqakula said that she was adamant about getting the wig because she was aware that in other African countries it was not common for a woman to be bald-headed, which she was at the time. Never miss a major story. Get breaking news and the latest developments from South Africa and beyond as they happen.