Mapisa-Nqakula trial: Witness tells court of his lapse in memory

PRETORIA – A witness in the corruption trial of former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has told the Pretoria High Court about a lapse in his memory as the defence continued testing the evidence presented by the State.

The testimony has become significant in a trial where the credibility and reliability of witnesses are central to determining whether the prosecution can prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mapisa-Nqakula has pleaded not guilty to the corruption and money-laundering charges against her and denies wrongdoing.

Witness questioned over memory

During proceedings, the witness was questioned about his recollection of events relevant to the State’s case.

He acknowledged experiencing a lapse in memory when dealing with certain details.

The admission provided an opening for the defence to scrutinise his evidence and question whether his recollection of events could be relied upon in circumstances where important details may have faded over time.

Defence challenges the State’s version

Mapisa-Nqakula’s legal team has consistently sought to test the reliability of witnesses called by the prosecution.

A witness acknowledging that he cannot remember certain details can become important during cross-examination, particularly where the State relies on testimony to establish a sequence of events or demonstrate relationships between individuals, payments and communications.

The defence is expected to use inconsistencies, omissions and gaps in recollection to challenge the overall credibility of the State’s evidence.

Mapisa-Nqakula faces corruption charges

The former Speaker is accused of corruption and money laundering arising from allegations linked to her time as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.

The State alleges that she solicited and received payments from a defence contractor.

Mapisa-Nqakula has rejected the allegations and maintains that she is innocent.

The prosecution must prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt before the court can convict her.

Why witness credibility matters

Witness testimony is often crucial in complex corruption cases because alleged transactions may involve conversations, meetings and agreements that are not always captured in a single document.

For the court, the question is therefore not simply whether a witness has forgotten something.

It must assess the extent of the memory lapse, what information the witness can reliably recall, whether other evidence supports his account and whether any inconsistencies materially affect the State’s case.

The defence will likely continue focusing on these issues as the trial progresses.

Evidence must be considered as a whole

A witness’s admission that they have forgotten a particular detail does not automatically invalidate their entire testimony.

Courts assess evidence in context and consider whether other evidence corroborates the relevant parts of a witness’s account.

In Mapisa-Nqakula’s case, the court will ultimately have to weigh witness testimony against documentary, financial and other evidence presented during the trial.

Trial continues

The Pretoria High Court is expected to hear further evidence as the State and defence continue presenting their respective cases.

The proceedings remain ongoing, and the court has not made a final finding on the allegations against Mapisa-Nqakula.

The former Speaker remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The latest testimony nevertheless highlights one of the key battlegrounds in the trial: whether the State’s witnesses are sufficiently reliable for the court to accept their evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.