The Pretoria High Court's ruling on September 7, 2026, confirmed that former Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's corruption trial will proceed. The court dismissed her application to have the charges against her dropped, stating that the State had established a prima facie case of corruption and money laundering.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces 12 counts of corruption and one count of money laundering. The allegations include soliciting and receiving R4.5 million in bribes from Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, a contractor for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), during her tenure as Defence Minister from December 2016 to July 2019. The court noted that R2.1 million of the alleged bribes was paid in cash.

Judge Mashudu Munzhelele delivered the ruling, emphasizing that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant Mapisa-Nqakula taking the stand. The judge rejected arguments from her legal team that the State had failed to provide adequate evidence to justify the trial.

In her defense, Mapisa-Nqakula has consistently denied the allegations. She resigned from her position as National Assembly Speaker and as a Member of Parliament in April 2024, shortly after surrendering to police. Her resignation followed a previous court ruling that dismissed her attempt to block her arrest on corruption charges.

The trial's next steps will involve the prosecution continuing to present its case, with Mapisa-Nqakula expected to mount a defense against the charges. The court's decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against her, as it allows the case to move forward after her unsuccessful bid for discharge under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Act.