Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial to proceed after High Court rejects discharge bid
The Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial will proceed after the Pretoria High Court dismissed former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s application for a discharge under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled on Monday, 7 September 2026, that the State had presented sufficient evidence for the case to continue.
The ruling means Mapisa-Nqakula will have to answer to the allegations brought against her after her legal team argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a case requiring her to present a defence.
Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial continues
Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering stemming from allegations relating to her time as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
The State alleges that she solicited and accepted approximately R4.5 million in illicit payments from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu between 2016 and 2019.
Prosecutors allege that the payments were connected to military transport tenders awarded during her tenure as Defence Minister. The State has previously told the court that about R2.1 million was allegedly received in cash.
Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denies wrongdoing.
The case has attracted significant public attention because of the senior political positions she previously held, including Speaker of the National Assembly and Minister of Defence.
High Court rejects Section 174 application
The latest development followed the State’s decision to close its case, after which Mapisa-Nqakula’s defence brought an application under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
A Section 174 application allows an accused person to seek a discharge at the close of the State’s case where there is insufficient evidence upon which a reasonable court could convict.
The defence argued that the prosecution had not presented enough evidence to establish a case against the former Speaker.
However, Judge Mashudu Munzhelele ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant Mapisa-Nqakula being called upon to answer to the allegations.
The ruling does not mean Mapisa-Nqakula has been found guilty. It means only that the court has determined that the case has enough evidence to proceed to the next stage.
Why the Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial matters
The case is being closely watched as another test of accountability involving a former senior government official.
South Africa has continued to grapple with allegations of corruption involving public institutions and senior political figures. The issue has also featured prominently in other major investigations and court proceedings.
Everyday Mzansi has previously reported on the Tembisa Hospital corruption investigation, another case that has highlighted concerns about alleged corruption and the protection of public resources.
These cases form part of a wider national conversation about accountability, transparency and the effectiveness of institutions responsible for investigating and prosecuting alleged wrongdoing.
Mapisa-Nqakula resigned as Speaker
Mapisa-Nqakula resigned as Speaker of the National Assembly and as a Member of Parliament in April 2024 after the corruption allegations emerged.
She later appeared in court and was charged in connection with the allegations.
Her defence has consistently challenged the State’s case, maintaining that the evidence presented does not establish that she committed the offences with which she is charged.
The prosecution, meanwhile, has maintained that it has sufficient evidence to support the charges.
The latest ruling means the dispute over the strength of that evidence will now continue within the criminal trial rather than ending with a discharge.
What happens next?
With the Section 174 application dismissed, the Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial can proceed to the next stage.
The former Speaker will have an opportunity to respond to the State’s evidence and present her defence in accordance with the criminal trial process.
The case remains ongoing, and Mapisa-Nqakula remains presumed innocent unless and until a court determines otherwise.
The ruling is nevertheless an important development in a case that has placed questions of political accountability and alleged corruption involving a former senior government official firmly back in the spotlight.
For readers who want to follow the latest court developments, SABC News has reported on the High Court ruling and the decision allowing the corruption trial to proceed.
