Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula Rejects Corrupt Label and Claims Others Are Worse Than Her, SA Unimpressed
- Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula appeared before the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria on 21 November 2025
- The former National Assembly speaker doesn’t think she should be considered the face of corruption in the country
- South Africans weighed in on Mapisa-Nqakula's comments, unimpressed with her claims that there were others worse than her
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG - Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula doesn’t think she should be considered as the face of corruption, when many others are being exposed at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Mapisa-Nqakula, the former National Assembly speaker, made the comments outside the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria on 21 November 2025. The former minister appeared in court as she faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. The charges are related to alleged kickbacks she received for a defence contract during her time as Minister of Defence.
Mapisa-Nqakula questioned how she’s being treated
Speaking to MDN News outside the courtroom, the former speaker claimed that she has been under surveillance, saying that she had no confirmation about who was conducting this surveillance, but that she wanted it to end.
“Yes, they probably look at me and see a criminal, but I’m not sure if I am a face of corruption in South Africa.
“There are faces of corruption in South Africa, and thanks that the Madlanga Commission is there, because the real criminals, the real mafia, the real thugs in this country are now coming out, and they are yet to come,” she stated.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyers also indicated that she would not be filing representations with the office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions to have her charges dropped and was ready to stand trial. The case has been postponed to 20 July 2026 for trial, and she remains out on R50 000 bail.
Source: Getty Images
What you need to know about Mapisa-Nqakula's case
- The South African Police Service raided Mapisa-Nqakula's Tshwane home on 19 March 2024
- She handed herself over to the Lyttleton Police Station in Tshwane and was charged with 13 counts of corruption
- She appeared in court on 22 March after she handed herself over to the police and leveraged her age to avoid jail time.
- The case against her was postponed to 9 July 2025 to allow the state to prepare for her indictment.
- During her 9 July appearance, the court heard how she allegedly demanded R4 million in bribery money and demanded a wig.
South Africans react to Mapisa-Nqakula’s comments
South Africans took to social media to share mixed reactions to Mapisa-Nqakula’s comments about there being more corrupt individuals than her.
@motsohi_thabang said:
“But at the level of power she had, she was the nexus of corruption that was encouraged by the ANC’s party-state culture and political philosophy. She set the tone. She must face the punishment.”
@Goatttttttttt9 stated:
“Yes, she might not be the face, but that doesn't mean she's not a part of it.”
@Tshepolekota added:
“She must just answer for her crimes and stop telling us about other criminals. They will also answer to theirs when they get charged.”
@galeboe_motati asked:
“So, she is just a normal/ common criminal and not a real one?”
@ZamaniLife noted:
“Not a leopard referring to a lion as carnivorous, as if it were a herbivore.”
@AneleMadondo2 stated:
“Our army is useless because of this lady. She bled it dry. She is the real face of corruption.”
ANC Women's League distances itself from Mapisa-Nqakula
Briefly News reported that the African National Congress Women's League distanced itself from Mapisa-Nqakula.
The league sought to distance itself from her and corruption-accused Free State premier Maqeen Letsoha-Mathae.
The ANCWL stated that the party's renewal agenda influenced its decision not to support the two members.
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Source: Briefly News
