Norma Mngoma, estranged wife of Malusi Gigaba, appeared before the Pretoria High Court to hear the outcome of her bid to have her infamous arrest declared unlawful and unconstitutional.
Pretoria court rules Norma Mngoma arrest was unlawful
On 20 July 2020, Mngoma was arrested for malicious damage to property. At the time, the scorned wife had descended on the property of the former Minister of Home Affairs, where she once happily lived.
Mngoma allegedly used a sharp object to inflict damage on a Mercedes Benz vehicle that was leased to the minister. Footage of the damaged vehicle surfaced on social media and soon, it was public knowledge that Gigaba’s marriage to Mngoma was in tatters.
Mngoma countered the charges she faced with her own complaints. She has accused the Hawks of abusing its powers by forcibly confiscating her electronic belongings, some of which she uses for her studies. Her belongings were allegedly rummaged at the police station and her SIM card data was wiped unlawfully.
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She also claimed that her right to legal counsel was waivered on the alleged basis that the Hawks were handling the investigation and thus, this right is ineffective.
In its ruling, the court noted with concern, the involvement of Mpumalanga’s division of the Hawks in a case that took place in Tshwane, outside of their jurisdiction.
“The application is granted on an urgent basis. The decision of the fourth and fifth respondent to apply for the warrant of arrest of the applicant is unlawful,” the court ruled.
The court ordered the Hawks to restore all data that was unlawfully removed from Mngoma’s electronic devices.
“The costs of this application will be bourne by the third, fourth and fifth respondents on an attorney and client scale,” the court added.
When is Mngoma’s State Capture appearance
This is yet another victory for Mngoma in her efforts to claw her way out of a marriage with a powerful political figure such as Gigaba.
The estranged wife is not done, however. It’s been reported that she will be making an appearance at the State Capture Inquiry, to provide evidence on the things she witnessed in her husband’s alleged dealings with the Gupta family.
Already, Mngoma’s claimed that her wedding, honeymoon and lavish lifestyle was, in part, funded by the notorious family at the centre of state capture.
At this time, the Zondo commission has not confirmed Mngoma’s appearance.
