Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is due back in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, as her corruption trial resumes, with the court set to continue hearing her defence after a series of delays.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces 13 criminal charges relating to allegations that she solicited R4.5 million in bribes from a defence contractor while serving as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, according to Africa Daily.

The charges

She faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The State alleges that she solicited approximately R4.5 million from a service provider, of which R2.1 million was allegedly received in cash.

The alleged bribes were paid between 2016 and 2019, when Mapisa-Nqakula was serving as defence minister. According to the State's case, the alleged payments were made by businesswoman Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, a former defence contractor who has since become a State witness.

The alleged corrupt relationship began after a R104 million contract awarded to the businesswoman was suspended. The State alleges that Mapisa-Nqakula subsequently met with the contractor on several occasions and solicited payments in exchange for assistance relating to her business dealings with the Department of Defence. The allegations include 11 payments between December 2016 and July 2019.

Mapisa-Nqakula has consistently denied wrongdoing, and the allegations against her remain unproven. She is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until the court finds otherwise.

How the case reached court

The investigation into Mapisa-Nqakula became public in March 2024, when the National Prosecuting Authority conducted a search and seizure operation at her home in Bruma, east of Johannesburg. The search lasted several hours and was linked to allegations of corruption during her tenure as defence minister.

She subsequently approached the High Court in an attempt to prevent her arrest, but the application was unsuccessful. She handed herself over to police on 4 April 2024, appeared in court, was charged and was granted bail of R50,000. She resigned as Speaker of the National Assembly and relinquished her parliamentary seat shortly before her court appearance.

Her trial has since progressed through several stages, including arguments over the sufficiency of the State's evidence. In September 2026, the Pretoria High Court dismissed her application under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act, in which she sought to be discharged without being called upon to present her defence. Judge Mashudu Munzhelele ruled that there was a prima facie case for her to answer.

Following that dismissal, Mapisa-Nqakula opted to take the stand, with her defence attorney leading her evidence.

Arrest warrant stayed in October

The trial was interrupted again in October. The Pretoria High Court issued a warrant of arrest for the former defence minister after she failed to appear at her corruption trial on Friday, 2 October 2026, when she was due back in the witness box under cross-examination, Fullview reported.

Her lawyer, Siyabulela Mapoma, handed in a medical certificate and asked for a postponement. The State did not oppose the postponement but asked the court to authorise the warrant. The court granted the request and ordered that the warrant be stayed until her next appearance.

The trial is set down for further proceedings from 11 to 20 November 2026, and from 30 November to 4 December 2026. The matter is now scheduled to continue on 11 November as the State and defence proceed with the trial.

The case is one of the most closely watched corruption trials in South Africa, involving a former Speaker of Parliament and a former defence minister, and its outcome is expected to be followed closely as the proceedings continue in Pretoria.