Central SA
Asbestos pretrial postponed yet again─── LUCKY NKUYANE 11:28 Fri, 20 Jan 2023
The Free State High Court has yet again postponed the pre-trial of 2014's failed R255 million asbestos project, involving 18 suspects. This includes the former premier and ANC Secretary-General (SG), Ace Magashule, and others.
The Free State High Court judge on Friday 20 January 2023 postponed the matter to 5 May 2023. This was to allow for a decision by the Bloemfontein-based Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on a petition by Magashule and others, who have since approached the Appeal's Court.
ALSO READ: Magashule to appear in court over R255m asbestos case
In 2022, Judge Soma Naidoo dismissed an application by Magashule, Wiseman Thabane Zulu, and Edwin Sodi, amongst others, to have charges against them dropped.
ALSO READ: #AsbestosGate: Magashule dealt a blow
It's also understood that Magashule's former Personal Assistant (PA) Moroadi Cholota's permit or visa to the United States of America (USA) has expired.
This means that the state will now pursue her extradition to become part of the suspects facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering, among others.
The state alleges that businessman Sodi was irregularly awarded the housing audit tender by the Free State Human Settlements Department in 2014, via his joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading - owned by murdered Welkom businessman Igo Mpambani. Not only was the tender irregular, but kickbacks were reportedly given to some of the accused.
OFM News previously reported that the State's Advocate Nazeer Cassim (SC) argued that there was a flagrant breach of Treasury regulations when awarding the controversial multi-million rand project. It was commissioned to eradicate the asbestos roofs of 30 000 households across the province in 2014.
ALSO READ – #AsbestosGate: There was a flagrant breach of Treasury regulations - State
The accused, in this case, includes Limpopo businessman, Edwin Sodi; former Mangaung Metro Mayor, Olly Mlamleli; the former head of the Free State Department of Human Settlements, Nthimotse Mokhesi; 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.
The implicated group is 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.
