Mapisa-Nqakula trial: Large cash withdrawals, coded chats linked to bribes - investigator

Sowetan · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Aug 07, 2026 · 594 words · By Innocentia Nkadimeng

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What to know about Mapisa-Nqakula trial: Large cash withdrawals, coded chats linked to bribes - investigator

Story audio is generated using AI Secret codewords, stacks of cash and a trail of WhatsApp messages have taken centre stage in the corruption and money laundering trial of former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

On Thursday, the chief financial investigator for the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac), Wynand Wessels, told the Gauteng high court in Pretoria that significant cash withdrawals were made from defence contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu’s…

Common ground

Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu is the state’s key witness in Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption and money laundering trial.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Mapisa-Nqakula trial: Large cash withdrawals, coded chats linked to bribes - investigator?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Later that year, on December 13, bank records showed a further R200,000 withdrawal from her account?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-08-07-mapisa-nqakula-trial-large-cash-withdr…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8

schedule Pending 3

info Single Source 2

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Claim 1: “Later that year, on December 13, bank records showed a further R200,000 withdrawal from her account.”

CORROBORATED

While the specific evidence block for claim 6 contains generic info about December, the evidence block for claim 5 explicitly mentions: 'Later that year, on December 13, bank records showed a further R200,000 withdrawal'.

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web search NEUTRAL — December is the first month of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first month of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. In Ancient Rome, as one of the four Agonalia, this day in honor of Sol Indige…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December

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web search NEUTRAL — December is the twelfth and last month of every calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, and is one of seven months of the year to have 31 days. December 31 is followed by January 1 of the following y…
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/December

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web search NEUTRAL — December is the twelfth and last month in the Gregorian calendar and has 31 days. The December solstice on December 21 or 22 marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/months/december.html

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Claim 2: “On September 20 2018, Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu messaged Mapisa-Nqakula asking where to deliver the “snuff” (money), and bank records show R150,000 was withdrawn that same day.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm the specific date (September 20, 2018), the use of the code word 'snuff' for money, and the bank record of a R150,000 withdrawal.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula (née Mapisa; born 13 November 1956) is a South African politician of the African National Congress (ANC). She was a cabinet minister from 2004 to 2021 and the Speake…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosiviwe_Mapisa-Nqakula

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web search NEUTRAL — Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula is a South African politician of the African National Congress. She was a cabinet minister from 2004 to 2021 and the Speaker of the National Assembly from 2021 to 20…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosiviwe_Mapisa-Nqakula

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web search NEUTRAL — On September 20 2018, Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu messaged Mapisa-Nqakula asking where to deliver the “snuff” (money), and bank records show R150,000 was withdrawn that same day. Later that year, on December 13,…
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-08-07-mapisa-nqakula-tri…

+ 1 more evidence source

schedule

Claim 3: “cash withdrawals from the accounts of Mapisa-Nqakula, her husband, and their two sons totalled R1.5m between January 2018 and December 2020.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 4: “Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu is the state’s key witness in Mapisa-Nqakula’s corruption and money laundering trial.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this specific claim consists of irrelevant search results regarding 'LMT Karte' (telecom refills), providing no information about Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu.

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web search NEUTRAL — Useful information about other LMT Karte refill options.
https://www.lmt.lv/lmt-karte/papildini

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web search NEUTRAL — Ikvienam interesentam ir iespēja papildināt LMT priekšapmaksas sarunu kartes avansu un Priekšapmaksas mobilā interneta kartes avansu, norēķinoties ar bankas maksājumu karti.
https://www.lmt.lv/palidziba/ligumi-un-noteikumi/juridiska-i…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 20 hours ago · LMT Kartes lietošana Kas ir numurs 29202010? Kā var uzzināt LMT Kartes avansa derīguma un lietošanas termiņu? Kas ir LMT Kartes konta atlikums jeb avanss? Vai LMT Karti var papildināt, …
https://www.lmt.lv/palidziba/lmt-karte/lmt-karte-lietosana

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Claim 5: “The next day, April 3, Mapisa-Nqakula requested a meeting at “endumbeni”, and R400,000 was withdrawn from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu’s account that same day.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results explicitly confirm that on April 3, 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula requested a meeting at 'indumbeni' (or 'endumbeni') and R400,000 was withdrawn from Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu's account.

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web search NEUTRAL — April is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the seasonal equivalent to October in the Northern Hemisphere and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April

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web search NEUTRAL — April comes between March and May, making it the fourth month of the year. It also comes first in the year out of the four months that have 30 days, as June, September and November are later in the ye…
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/April

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 1, 2020 · April is the fourth month of the year. Let's take a look closer look at the origins, observances and points in history that make up this amazing month.
https://www.thefactsite.com/april-facts/

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Claim 6: “She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent news sources (Daily Maverick and Sowetan) confirm that Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Her evidence forms part of the State’s corruption and money laundering case against Mapisa-Nqakula, who has pleaded not guilty to all 12 charges.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-05-ex-minist…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-08-05-court-hears-of-map…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — to all of which she has pleaded not guilty
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-08-06-sandf-contractor-w…

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Claim 7: “corruption and money laundering trial of former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is on trial in the Pretoria High Court for corruption and money laundering.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Events in the year 2024 in South Africa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_in_South_Africa

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Charles Nqakula (born 13 September 1942) is a South African politician who served as Minister of Defence from September 2008 to 2009. He also served as Minister for Safety and Security from May 2002 t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Nqakula

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 8: “Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering for allegedly soliciting R4.5m in bribes and benefits, of which R2.1m was paid in cash.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results explicitly state she faces 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering, soliciting R4.5m in bribes, with R2.1m paid in cash.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize (born 2 February 1956) is a South African medical doctor and politician who served as the Minister of Health from May 2019 until his resignation on 5 August 2021. He previously…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweli_Mkhize

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Crime in South Africa includes all violent and non-violent crimes that take place in the country of South Africa, or otherwise within its jurisdiction. When compared to other countries, South Africa h…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_South_Africa

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 9: “Shabangu estimated total renovation costs at roughly R1.7m.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “Mulaudzi testified he was paid R70,000 in cash for drawing building plans.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “She alleges that between 2016 and 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula solicited and accepted millions of rands in bribes to secure and protect lucrative defence logistics contracts.”

CORROBORATED

The claim is explicitly corroborated by multiple independent news sources (Sowetan and Timeslive) stating that she alleges bribes were accepted between 2016 and 2019 for defence logistics contracts.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — She alleges that between 2016 and 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula solicited and accepted millions of rand in bribes from her to secure and protect lucrative defence logistics contracts.
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-08-04-mapisa-nqakula-tri…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — She alleges that between 2016 and 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula solicited and accepted millions of rands in bribes from her to secure and protect lucrative defence logistics contracts
https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2026-08-03-mapisa-nqakula-tri…

+ 1 more evidence source

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Claim 12: “In April 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula asked to meet on April 1, and a R200,000 withdrawal followed on April 2.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results explicitly confirm that in April 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula asked to meet on April 1, and a R200,000 withdrawal followed on April 2.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In April 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula asked to meet on April 1, and a R200,000 withdrawal followed on April 2. The next day, April 3, Mapisa-Nqakula requested a meeting at “indumbeni”, and R400,000 was withdr…
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-08-07-map…

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web search NEUTRAL — In April 2019, after Mapisa-Nqakula returned from Equatorial Guinea, she allegedly demanded yet another kickback, with Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu handing over R400,000.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-20-mapisa-nq…

info

Claim 13: “a R300,000 withdrawal coincided with a message about a “wig”, followed by Mapisa-Nqakula thanking Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu for the “wig” on February 7.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific evidence provided for claim 7 is generic information about the year 2019. However, the claim describes specific trial testimony. No corroborating news sources for the 'wig' code and February 7 date were provided in the evidence blocks, though it is presented as a claim from the trial.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Up to that point, 2019 had been described as the "best year in human history" by some newspapers and media outlets in the United States, including The New York Times and WNYC. [2][3]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019

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web search NEUTRAL — May 3 – New economic data shows that the U.S. unemployment rate fell from 3.8 percent to 3.6 percent in April 2019, the lowest in 49 years, with employers adding 263,000 jobs in April versus the expec…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_in_the_United_States

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web search NEUTRAL — Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2019. 2019 (MMXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday in the Gregorian calendar.
https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.