Was Baleka Mbete transported to support Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula at Lyttelton police station in a presidential motorcade?

Former deputy president and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, was  reportedly at the Lyttelton police station in Tshwane on Thursday morning to support her long-time friend and ally, embattled former Speaker of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

This came as she handed herself over to police amid a multi-million rand corruption investigation.

The scene at the police station was tense as Mapisa-Nqakula arrived in a convoy of three sport utility vehicles.

But before she arrived, the SABC reported that members of the SAPS Presidential Protection Service unit had entered the police station.

Mbete, who has been a close friend of Mapisa-Nqakula for many years, stood by her side as she was processed by law enforcement agents.

The presence of Mbete at the police station highlighted the strong bond between the two women, who have been political allies for decades.

As the Presidential Protection Service convoy drove out of the premises with blue police lights flashing, journalists and photographers were at the main entrance as the BMW 3-series, followed by a BMW X5 with the SAPS Presidential Protection Service badge and a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Mercedes-Benz V-class drove out.

Minutes later, as speculation swirled about where Mapisa-Nqakula was being taken, she emerged from the police station and was escorted to a waiting vehicle.

The media frenzy outside the station captured the moment as Mapisa-Nqakula, flanked by security personnel, made her way to to either the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court or the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.


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