BLOEMFONTEIN – The R255-million Free State Government asbestos roof corruption trial involving former Free State Premier and ANC provincial leader Ace Magashule and 16 others has been postponed to 9 March for legal representation. The high-profile matter is set to return to the Free State High Court to determine applications for further postponement and address legal representation issues for certain accused persons.
The twist in the court proceedings of the matter came on Tuesday, 3 March. This was after Nthimotse Mokhesi, expelled head of the Free State Department of Human Settlements, indicated that he was going to apply for Legal Aid representation. During a short appearance on Monday 2 March, the court heard that this application for legal representation had been declined. This means that although Mokhesi previously had legal representation, he currently is without a legal representative.
The state was expected to call its first witness on Tuesday, when the court case continued in the Free State High Court. All accused persons were present in court on Monday and have legal representation with the exception of Mokhesi.
Magashule is accused of stealing public money set aside to audit government houses with asbestos roofs in 2014, when he was premier of the Free State. He is charged with multiple counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering allegedly committed.
The allegations revolve around the equivalent of R255 million in asbestos audit contracts awarded during ex-president Jacob Zuma’s graft-tainted tenure of 2009 to 2018. The hazardous roofs were never removed.
The other accused include five companies and the charges comprise fraud, corruption, money laundering and the contravention of the Law on Public Financial Management.
Magashule is charged along with Johannesburg businessman Edwin Sodi, Mokhesi and Mahlomola John Matlakala, former acquisitions manager of the Free State Department of Human Settlements.
Others also being charged include Olly Mlamleli (former mayor of the Mangaung Metro and Free State MEC for Co-operative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements), Thabane Zulu (former national director-general of Human Settlements), Margaret-Ann Diedricks (then temporary head of the department in Gauteng), Bertus Venter (former head of corporate administration in the premiers’ office), Nozipho Molikoe (financial head of the Free State Deparment of Human Settlements) and Thabiso Makepe (chief engineer of the department).
Companies charged are Sello Radebe and his company Mastertrade 232, Abel Manyeki and his company the Ori Group, Sodi’s company Blackhead Consulting, as well as Diamond Hill Trading 71 and 605 Consulting Solutions.
