National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, welcomed the Supreme Court of Appeal's dismissal of Magashule application. Magashule and others stand accused of fraud, corruption, and money laundering in connection with a failed R255 million asbestos roofing project in 2014.

ALSO READ: #AsbestosGate: There was a flagrant breach of Treasury regulations - State

The Bloemfontein-based Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dealt Magashule, businessman Edwin Sodi and the former Director-General for the National Department of Human Settlements Thabane Wiseman Zulu's application a blow.

The trio petitioned the SCA to overturn the 2022 judgment by Judge Soma Naidoo to dismiss their application.

ALSO READ: #AsbestosGate: Magashule dealt a blow

In January 2023, the pretrial into the R255 million project was postponed to 5 May 2023 to allow for a decision by the SCA, which has since dismissed this petition by Magashule and his co-accused.

ALSO READ: Asbestos pretrial postponed yet again

Meanwhile, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, said they welcome the SCA's dismissal.

"Today, 2 May 2023, the SCA dismissed the leave to appeal because there are no reasonable prospects of success in an appeal and there are no other compelling reasons why the appeal should be heard. This decision is a vindication of our long-held view that their application has no merit. We hope that the case can now proceed on a trial date to be arranged by both state and the defence," Mhaga adds.

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.

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 between R50 000 to R500 000.

OFM News