Former Defence Minister Reveals Where She Got the Money To Renovate Her Home, Check Out

Former Defence Minister and former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has defended the source of the money used to renovate her Johannesburg home, insisting that the funds came from her legitimate earnings, personal savings and travel allowances accumulated over several years.

Mapisa-Nqakula made the remarks while testifying in her corruption and money laundering trial at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. She maintained that she had sufficient financial resources to pay for the renovations and had no reason to conceal where the money came from.

According to her testimony, she had worked in Parliament for approximately 30 years, during which she earned a regular salary, received additional incentives and accumulated savings. She also explained that her husband was employed and earned an income, while her official international trips provided subsistence and travel (S&T) allowances.

The former minister argued that these sources of income enabled her to finance improvements to her Bruma property without relying on money allegedly received from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu.

“I have no reason to disguise the source of the money or the money that I used to do renovations in my house. I was earning a salary, even at home there was a salary, I had incentives and even saved a lot,” Mapisa-Nqakula told the court.

However, the State has strongly challenged her explanation, arguing that the available financial records do not support her version of events.

Prosecutors allege that Mapisa-Nqakula solicited approximately R4.5 million in corrupt payments from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, who was involved in securing government contracts through her company. The State further alleges that she received approximately R2.1 million in cash, some of which was used to finance renovations at her residence.

The renovation project reportedly cost between R1.7 million and R1.8 million, with payments made largely in cash.

During cross-examination, State prosecutor Advocate Emile van der Merwe questioned how Mapisa-Nqakula and her family could have raised sufficient cash to cover the renovation expenses. He argued that when the cash withdrawals made by the former minister, her husband and their two children were calculated, the total amount was insufficient to settle the construction costs.

Mapisa-Nqakula rejected the suggestion, maintaining that the State’s calculations did not accurately reflect her financial position and accumulated resources.

The court has also heard evidence from interior designer Nomsa Shabangu, who testified that she facilitated payments to contractors during the renovation project. Shabangu previously told the court that Mapisa-Nqakula still owed her approximately R200,000 for work completed at the property.

The former minister acknowledged the outstanding payment, explaining that she intended to settle the debt but had experienced financial difficulties after spending much of her pension payout on legal expenses.

She also denied ever asking Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu for financial assistance, dismissing allegations that she had disclosed having only R6,000 in her bank account to pay workers renovating her home.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering relating to alleged corrupt activities during her tenure as Defence Minister between 2016 and 2019. She has pleaded not guilty and continues to deny the allegations against her.

The trial remains ongoing, with the State seeking to establish a connection between the alleged corrupt payments and the renovations carried out at her home.

Source: https://x.com/eNCA/status/2120590438851645675?a=-m4-7orj18vm87RNdZc&s=19

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