Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula wants the Department of Defence to provide her with legal representation for her upcoming corruption trial.
However, the request has led to tensions within the department.
Defence Minister Thandi Modise has been angered by officials who have set the ball rolling without consulting her first.
Mapisa-Nqakula was officially charged with 12 counts of corruption and money laundering earlier this month for allegedly receiving kickbacks related to tenders awarded by the department during her tenure as the Defence Minister.
It emerged that Mapisa-Nqakula sent a request for legal representation to the head of legal services in the SANDF Major General Eric Mnisi.
Mnisi appears to have gone ahead in agreeing to the request without consulting the minister or the secretary of defence – Thobekile Gamede – who is the department’s accounting officer.
Mapisa-Nqakula resigned as speaker earlier this month and is no longer a member of Parliament.
She swapped roles with her predecessor Thandi Modise in August 2021.
Ministerial Spokesperson Amos Phago says Modise is questioning the process.
“General Mnisi’s handling of the matter without following existing protocols is tantamount to disrespect of executive authority in the Department of Defence. The minister instructed the Secretary of Defence Dr Gamede to look into General Mnisi’s handling of the matter from an administrative and process point of view as there are protocols that must be followed for such requests.”
Modise says she will be the one to consider Mapisa-Nqakula’s request taking the law and public finances into consideration.
Mapisa-Nqakula is out on bail and is due to return to court on the 4th of June.
-EWN
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