Those who testified before Justice Raymond Zondo on the R255 million project, include Limpopo businessman Edwin Sodi; the former head of the Free State Department of Human Settlements, Nthimotse Mokhesi; and former personal assistant to Ace Magashule when he was Free State Premier, Moroadi Cholota. Cholota is the latest accused to be added to the case. Sodi and company are reportedly of the view that the obtainment of the transcripts/testimonials from the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture by the prosecution was done in an unconstitutional manner. It remains to be seen what the Bloemfontein High Court Judge President, Cagney Musi, will decide on the matter when pre-trial proceedings resume on 21 February 2021. 

Despite this - and the revelation that Cholota is no longer a witness but now an accused, after refusing to cooperate with the state at the last minute - the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mthunzi Mhaga, maintains the state has a formidable case against all involved.

Aside from Magashule, Sodi, and Mokhesi, the other accused in the matter are former Mangaung Metro Mayor, Olly Mlamleli; the Director for Supply Chain Management at Human Settlements, Mahlomola John Matlakala; a businessman residing in Johannesburg, Sello Joseph Radebe; a Pretoria businessman, Abel Kgotso Manyeki; the former Director-General for the National Department of Human Settlements, Thabane Wiseman Zulu; and Albertus Venter, who occupied a role in the Free State Premier’s office. 

Mhaga says processes are underway to have Cholota extradited from the United States of America, now that a warrant for her arrest has been issued.

It’s alleged Sodi was irregularly awarded the housing audit tender via his joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading, owned by murdered Welkom businessman, Igo Mpambani, by the Free State Human Settlements Department in 2014. Not only was the tender irregular but it is reported that kickbacks were given to some of the accused. The implicated group is collectively facing more than 70 counts of fraud, theft, attempted theft, corruption, and money laundering. Following their arrests, the suspects were released on bail of R50 000 to R500 000. The group has repeatedly complained over delays to the case, demanding that the matter be expedited. 

Mhaga tells media on Wednesday, that there is a significant number of suspects in the case and this needs to be factored in when complaints are made by the accused over the length of the crime.

OFM News