SANDF legal head in hot water over Mapisa-Nqakula request
A request for assistance with legal representation by beleaguered former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa -Nqakula has caused friction in the ministry for defence and military veterans.
Minister Thandi Modise has rapped the Head of Legal Service in the South African National Defence Force, Major General Eric Mnisi, over the knuckles for allegedly actioning the request by Modise's predecessor without approval.
Mapisa-Nqakula wrote to the department to request assistance with legal representation in the multi-million-rand corruption case against her.
The former defence minister handed herself over to authorities earlier this month, where she was charged with 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering for allegedly soliciting and receiving kickbacks from a military contractor during her tenure as minister.
READ MORE: Court grants Mapisa-Nqakula bail of R50k
Modise's spokesperson Amos Phago said while the minister applies her mind to Mapisa-Nqakula’s request she has ordered a probe into Mnisi's conduct.
He said Mnisi’s actions were “tantamount to disrespect of executive authority in the Department of Defence”.
In the statement issued on Friday afternoon, Modise was quoted as saying: “I have instructed the Secretary of Defence Dr Gamade 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.”
Jacaranda FM News reached out to Mapisa-Nqakula’s advisor but had not received a response by the time of publication.
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