Niehaus, who is a staunch supporter and ally of Ace Magashule, is already in Bloemfontein to support the suspended Secretary-General (SG). He says his impression is that Tuesday's court proceedings will again be postponed. Niehaus says it seems as if the charges against Magashule have served their purpose, of making sure that he is suspended from his party's SG position.

"Why is this matter not being dealt with? Why are there all these postponements? Is it not because Mr Magashule, having been charged, already serves a purpose? Because the purpose was to get him charged so that he could be forced to step aside. In this instance now, he has been suspended, and now there is no rush to get the court case going.

"If there is no case, if the state is not ready, let them throw this case out of the court. We are sick and tired of trumped-up charges and the courts and law being used for factional political purposes," he adds.

OFM News previously reported that hundreds of Magashule supporters are expected to descend on Bloemfontein from different provinces to support him during the continuation of his trial at the Free State High Court. Magashule, former Mangaung Mayor Olly Mlamleli, and businessman Edwin Sodi, among others, face more than 70 charges of fraud, theft, and corruption in the failed R255 million asbestos project.

OFM News