A high-profile corruption case involving South Africa’s former National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, resumed in Pretoria’s High Court this week, drawing renewed attention to allegations of graft during her tenure as Defence Minister. Prosecutors outlined 12 counts of corruption and one charge of money laundering tied to accusations that she accepted approximately R4.5 million (about $240,000) in bribes from defense contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu. The case, delayed multiple times, centers on claims that Mapisa-Nqakula illicitly influenced tender processes in exchange for cash payments. A progress report submitted to the court this week signals efforts to advance proceedings after prolonged setbacks, though no trial date has been set.
Meanwhile, the Lusikisiki mass murder trial entered its fourth week in the Mthatha High Court, with prosecutors preparing to present evidence on the motive behind the execution-style killings of 18 people in Ngobozana Village last year. Six suspects face charges linked to the attack, described by survivors as a sudden, violent ambush. Two witnesses recounted narrowly escaping death by hiding during the shooting, while forensic experts testified that firearms recovered from the accused matched ballistic evidence from the crime scene. The prosecution has yet to clarify whether the massacre was tied to local disputes or broader criminal networks in the Eastern Cape region.
In Boksburg, a fire engulfed a Greyhound bus depot in Jet Park, destroying three coaches and a trailer. Emergency responders contained the blaze, and no injuries were reported, according to Ekurhuleni EMS spokesperson Eric Maloka. The cause remains under investigation, though authorities have not ruled out electrical faults or arson. The incident adds to recent transportation challenges in the area, where infrastructure strains and accidents have sparked public concern.
Separately, police in Muizenberg pledged to increase patrols after a late-night shooting at a Seawinds establishment left three dead and one injured. The victims, aged 29 to 32, were found with gunshot wounds at Mike’s Place, a local venue. A fourth individual survived the attack and alerted authorities, though suspects remain at large. Police spokesperson Andrè Traut stated the motive was unclear, but the incident has heightened calls for improved safety measures in the coastal community.
These cases underscore ongoing challenges in South Africa’s legal and public safety systems, from high-level corruption to violent crime, as authorities grapple with delays, resource constraints, and community demands for accountability.
