WARRANT ISSUED FOR NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA AFTER NO-SHOW IN COURT
By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief
The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.
AZANIAFROCOMEDIA – The Catalyst of Impact
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Defence Minister and former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula after she failed to appear in court on Friday, 2 October 2026.
The court ordered that the warrant be held over and not executed until her next scheduled appearance on 11 November 2026.
Mapisa-Nqakula was expected to continue her testimony on Friday after proceedings were cut short on Tuesday when she fell ill while on the stand. Her legal team told the court she was still unwell.
Defence counsel Siyabulela Mapoma presented a medical certificate to the court on her behalf and applied for a postponement. The State confirmed receipt of the medical report and did not oppose the application.
The presiding judge accepted the medical certificate but authorized a warrant to be issued and held until November.
The trial has now been postponed to 11 to 20 November, with a second block set for 30 November to 4 December 2026.
Mapisa-Nqakula is facing 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering relating to her tenure as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans between 2016 and 2019.
The State alleges that she solicited R4.5 million in bribes from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, with R2.1 million allegedly paid in cash, in exchange for securing and maintaining tenders with the South African National Defence Force logistics division.
She has pleaded not guilty and has denied all charges. In previous appearances, Mapisa-Nqakula told the court: "I'm not a criminal" and maintained she had never solicited bribes. The defence has challenged the State's interpretation of WhatsApp messages and alleged codes.
The case has faced several delays since Mapisa-Nqakula's initial court appearance in 2024. On Tuesday, her testimony was halted after she complained of feeling unwell, prompting the court to adjourn.
Friday's development adds a new twist, with the issuance of a warrant — albeit held over — underscoring the court's insistence on her presence for the continuation of the trial.
Legal analysts say a held warrant is standard practice when a medical certificate is presented, serving as a compliance measure to ensure attendance at the next date.
The National Prosecuting Authority has previously indicated it has a strong case, including testimony from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who is a Section 204 witness in the matter.
Mapisa-Nqakula resigned as Speaker of Parliament in April 2024 shortly before being charged.
If convicted, the charges carry serious penalties including lengthy imprisonment.
The trial will resume in November.
The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.
Comments