The former speaker was unsuccessful in her attempt to get the defence department to pay the legal costs in her forthcoming corruption trial
23 May 2024 - 05:00
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Nicholas Crisp could not contain his delight after his boss, President Cyril Ramaphosa, finally found a pen to sign National Health Insurance into law. “I am very happy,” the point man for the ANC’s controversial act told an interviewer after a grand signing ceremony. Crisp has been at the front line of free medical help for all South Africans, often in the face of strident opposition, patiently explaining how it would work, where the money will come from and how wonderful the future will be — all against a background of his boss now appearing to be getting cold feet.
Picture: Jaco Marais
A bad week for Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is on her own. The former ANC high-flyer will need to cough up for her own legal fees as she faces charges of corruption. As a former minister of defence, among other soft landings she has been given is being speaker of the National Assembly. She has tried to get an army general to find the money to pay for her lawyers, but this week the department of defence shut down that line of march. It said: “Following thorough consideration with relevant authorities, we have concluded that the applicant is not eligible for such a benefit.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
A bad week for Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
The former speaker was unsuccessful in her attempt to get the defence department to pay the legal costs in her forthcoming corruption trial
A good week for Nicholas Crisp
Nicholas Crisp could not contain his delight after his boss, President Cyril Ramaphosa, finally found a pen to sign National Health Insurance into law. “I am very happy,” the point man for the ANC’s controversial act told an interviewer after a grand signing ceremony. Crisp has been at the front line of free medical help for all South Africans, often in the face of strident opposition, patiently explaining how it would work, where the money will come from and how wonderful the future will be — all against a background of his boss now appearing to be getting cold feet.
A bad week for Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is on her own. The former ANC high-flyer will need to cough up for her own legal fees as she faces charges of corruption. As a former minister of defence, among other soft landings she has been given is being speaker of the National Assembly. She has tried to get an army general to find the money to pay for her lawyers, but this week the department of defence shut down that line of march. It said: “Following thorough consideration with relevant authorities, we have concluded that the applicant is not eligible for such a benefit.”
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