Central SA
Calls for #AsbestosGate trial to be removed from roll─── LUCKY NKUYANE 14:46 Fri, 23 Sep 2022
There have been calls made to the state to remove the failed R255 million Free State Asbestos project, which includes the former Premier and the current suspended ANC Secretary-General (SG), from the roll.
One of the accused - through his legal representative, Lebohang Mokhele - on Friday 23 September 2022, during the continuation of a pretrial in the case, told Judge Phillip Loubser that such a move would make way for the state to put its house in order.
Mokhele says the constant and long postponements in the trial, including other matters such as the petitioning of the Bloemfontein-based Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), have a financial adverse effect on his client, who is accused number 2 - Mahlomola John Matlakala. Mokhele says in an event that the state decides to remove the matter from the roll it will not be prejudiced.
17 accused - including former Free State Premier Ace Magashule, former MEC for Human Settlements Olly Mlamleli, and businessman Edwin Sodi - on Friday appeared in court to face varying charges including fraud, corruption and money laundering related to the 2014 project. In total, the state has 18 suspects with Cholota the newest suspect in the case.
ALSO READ - #AsbestosGate: Magashule and co back in the dock
The pretrial was, however, postponed following a consultation inside Judge Loubser's chambers. Judge Loubser announced that the pretrial is postponed to 20 January 2023. This allows some of the accused, including Ace Magashule and businessman Edwin Sodi, to petition the Bloemfontein-based Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) for leave to appeal an earlier High Court judgment.
ALSO READ - #AsbestosGate: Case postponed
The state prosecutor, Johan de Nysschen, on Friday told Judge Loubser that two new suspects, including the former Free State Premier's Personal Assistant (PA), have been added to the R255 million failed asbestos project indictment.
De Nysschen said former Premier Ace Magashule's PA, Moroadi Cholota, has been added to the amended indictment. Furthermore, the former Head (HOD) of the Gauteng Human Settlements Department, Margaret-Ann Diedricks, who was arrested in July this year, also made her first High Court appearance on Friday.
ALSO READ: Former #Magashule PA added to #AsbestosGate case
De Nysschen said officials in the United States of America (USA) are currently processing the extradition of Cholota in consultation with the South African government.
ALSO READ - #BreakingNews: Warrant of arrest out for Magashule's former PA in US
