‘I'M FREE NOW'

Norma Mngoma, wife of former finance minister Malusi Gigaba, is trying to rebuild her life after testifying against her husband at the state capture commission

- JOY MPHANDE

SOUTH Africans have grown used to gobsmacking details coming out of the Zondo Commission into state capture – but one woman’s testimony really had jaws hanging on the floor.

Norma Mngoma, dressed to the nines, hair perfect, long nails gleaming, earrings in place, dropped bombshell after bombshell. Over the course of six gruelling hours, she told in shocking detail how her husband Malusi Gigaba, who’s been a finance minister and home affairs minister, was wooed by the Gupta brothers with expensive cars, gold jewellery and bags of money.

Once her testimony was done last month, Norma – who now goes by her maiden name – went away for a few days to get over the stress of it all. But she’s back now and she’s ready to spill a few more beans.

After everything that’s happened, you’d expect her to avoid her husband like the plague.

But Norma and Malusi are still living under the same roof – and while things are tense, they’re doing it for the kids. “Our house is big enough so we can stay together without stepping on anyone’s toes,” she says.

But it’s fair to say the couple have done a fair amount of stepping on each other’s toes over the past few months.

All hell broke loose in July last year when Norma was arrested by the Hawks after allegedly damaging a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon Malusi had been driving. The case against her was withdrawn last month after the high court in Pretoria declared Malusi had abused his powers by involving the Hawks in their domestic dispute.