Social media was abuzz on Thursday when an enormous snake was seen slithering in the direction of the home of former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula simply as her armed cavalcade whisked her away to look within the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court for a proper bail utility.
She faces 12 counts of corruption and one depend of money laundering, involving R4,5 million courting again to her time as defence minister.
ALSO READ | WATCH | Massive snake seen slithering in the direction of Mapisa-Nqakula’s home
An SABC TV information crew had their cameras following the cavalcade as Mapisa-Nqakula left her posh Johannesburg home. Minutes after the footage was shared on social media platform “X”, eagle-eyed viewers seen some motion within the background shrubbery alongside the verge and noticed a big snake slithering within the path of the previous nationwide speaker’s home.
The sighting of the snake triggered a flurry of feedback and theories by social media customers on the symbolism behind Mapisa-Nqakula and the serpent crossing paths at such an ominous second in her life.
Some commentators wryly questioned which snake others have been referring to?
In her bid for bail, Mapisa-Nqakula, served as minister of correctional companies between 2009 and 2012, stated she is going to endure “serious physical harm” if she is pressured to stay in jail pending her trial.
She instructed the courtroom she was “not equipped, from a health perspective, to deal with incarceration.”
In a 46-page bail utility affidavit learn by her lawyer, Graham Kerr-Phillip, Mapisa-Nqakula referred to the “dire” circumstances in South Africa’s prisons.
The former Parliamentary speaker stated she meant to face trial and there was no purpose to arrest her.
I’m not a flight danger, I’ve an excessive amount of to lose. I’ve a state pension. I’ve tendered my co-operation to NPA, SAPS and others. I voluntarily got here to courtroom as we speak [Thursday]. I’ve no earlier convictions. I’ve no want to intervene with the state’s case.
The state didn’t oppose bail however requested that the courtroom set the bond at R100 000.
Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyer Kerr-Phillips proposed R50 000 bail, arguing that R100 000 was “just too much” for Mapisa-Nqakula, who he stated is “now a pensioner”.
Mapisa-Nqakula was launched on R50 000 bail with circumstances.
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Although Mapisa-Nqakula has but to see the cost sheet, she maintained that the state’s case was weak.
This is a malicious prosecution primarily based on weak proof. I’m not conscious of witnesses who will likely be known as and gained’t make contact with him/her. I’ve no intention of interfering with this proof. I bear no grudges.
