Speaker of parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is making headlines after the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (ID) did a search and seizure operation at her house last week.
Confirmed reports have it that the ID ransacked her lush double-storey in Bruma, Johannesburg, on 19 March.
NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA’S DESIGNER BAGS ALLEGEDLY SEIZED
Mapisa-Nqakula is being investigated for allegations that she received millions of cash from a defence force contractor while she was the minister of defence.
In June 2012, Jacob Zuma appointed Mapisa-Mqakula as the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. She served the office for almost nine years.
Nqakula allegedly received over R2.3 million in cash delivered in gift bags. However, reports have it that the bribes happened between 2016 and 2019. The investigation began six months ago, and this is reportedly the first crackdown on Mapisa-Nqakula.
However, Sunday World reports ID members were also looking for a bear skin “with claws”, designer handbags and expensive wigs. According to Sunday World, several designer bags and posh wigs were seized during the raid. However, little is known about the number of Mapisa-Nqakula’s seized designer bags and wigs.
CHALLENGING THE MANNER OF THE OPERATION
Against the raid, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s office confirmed the incident. Addressing the media, her team rubbished arrest claims and downplayed rumours that she handed herself over to the police.
“We can confirm that the speaker and her family are at home, and she has had no interaction with the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate (ID) since the search and seizure operation at her house on Tuesday, March 19,” her office said.
However, the office noted that they filed papers challenging how the ID conducted their search and seizure operation.
UGLY SCENES DURING THE SEARCH AND SEIZURE OPERATION
There were reports of ugly scenes during the raid. Reports allege a standoff between the police and Charles Nqakula, the husband of the speaker of parliament Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The standoff allegedly happened when ID members tried to search her indumba.
A source speaking under anonymity to Sunday World said, “Those guys got into the house and searched everywhere, but when they tried to move into the backyard, where the indumba for Nosiviwe is located, the old man blocked the door, telling the cops that they were not pure enough to set their foot in the room.”
The source added, “There was a commotion at the entrance of the indumba.”