Also see: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula maintains innocence as Pretoria trial continues
Nosiviwe made the remarks while testifying in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, as prosecutors continued questioning her about alleged bribe payments and the renovations at her Johannesburg home.
During cross-examination, the State questioned her about an allegation that she had told Nombasa she had only R6,000 in her bank account and needed money to pay workers who had completed renovations at her property.
According to IOL, Nosiviwe rejected the claim, insisting that she never disclosed her bank balance or discussed her financial problems with the contractor.
“Even my husband does not know how much I have in my bank account,” she told the court.
State presents bank statements
The prosecution referred Nosiviwe to her bank statements, which showed that her account had an overdraft limit of R10,000. The statements also reflected a negative balance of just over R4,000 on 4 April 2019, with approximately R6,000 available between 4 and 9 April.
She confirmed the figures reflected in the statements but disputed the suggestion that she had shared the information with Nombasa. The contractor previously testified that Nosiviwe had told her she had only R6,000 left and needed money to pay workers at her Bruma home.
According to Nombasa, she subsequently handed the former minister a bag containing cash, which was allegedly placed behind a pillow. Nosiviwe denied this version of events, saying she had no reason to discuss her overdraft problems with the contractor.
“I had no reason, my lady, to tell Nombasa about my problem, that I had an overdraft problem,” she told the court. She also insisted: “I never asked for Nombasa’s money.”
Contractor’s testimony at the centre of corruption allegations
Nombasa, who testified under a Section 204 indemnity arrangement, previously told the court that she made several cash payments to Mapisa-Nqakula after her logistics company, Umkhombe Marine, secured a R79 million contract.
The contractor is a key State witness and may receive indemnity from the prosecution in exchange for her testimony.
The State alleges that Nosiviwe solicited R4.5 million in bribes from Nombasa while serving as Defence Minister between 2016 and 2019. She allegedly received approximately R2.1 million in cash.
Prosecutors claim the money was linked to government contracts and was used, in part, to finance renovations at her Bruma property in Johannesburg.
Nosiviwe has pleaded not guilty and denies receiving corrupt payments, the publication added.
Also see: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denies ‘wig’ was code for a bribe
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula questioned about unpaid renovation fees
The court also heard evidence about outstanding payments to people involved in renovating her home.
According to TimesLIVE, interior designer Nomsa Shabangu testified that Nosiviwe still owed her approximately R200,000 for work carried out between 2018 and 2020.
Nosiviwe confirmed that she had received her pension payout in 2024 but said the money had since been used to cover her legal expenses.
She maintained that she intended to settle the outstanding amount when she had the means to do so.
She also disputed the State’s suggestion that the renovations were funded through alleged bribes, saying she had used her salary and travel allowances to pay for the work.
Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has accused former defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu of lying under cross-examination to secure immunity from prosecution under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Mapisa-Nqakula alleges that Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu implicated herself in corruption through her testimony in the case.
She has also disputed testimony by Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu’s sister, who claimed to have visited her home and met her husband.
The former Defence Minister is being cross-examined by the State in her corruption trial in the Pretoria High Court.
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— Kaya News (@KayaNews) November 11, 2026
Arrest warrant cancelled
Wednesday’s proceedings also saw the cancellation of the arrest warrant issued against Nosiviwe after she failed to appear in court on 2 October.
The warrant had been held in abeyance after her legal team submitted a medical certificate explaining her absence.
Judge Mashudu Munzhelele formally cancelled it following her return to court.
Nosiviwe faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. She resigned as National Assembly Speaker in April 2024 following her arrest.
Her trial is continuing, with the State still challenging her version of events through cross-examination.
