The trial date for the failed R255 million asbestos roofing project involving former Free State premier and, ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule has been set.

Today Free State High Court Judge Pitso Molitsoane postponed the case where 18 suspects face varying charges, including fraud, corruption, and money laundering, to 15 April to 23 June 2025.

This is for the commencement of the much-anticipated trial following lengthy postponements and applications to have charges dismissed by Magashule and two other suspects, including Edwin Sodi and Thabane Wiseman Zulu.

‘Defense lawyers agreed on the trial date’

During the proceedings on Friday morning (14/6) Molitsoane postponed it after the state prosecutor adv., Johan De Nysschen, and defense lawyers agreed on the trial date to allow additional time to address various administrative issues, including the lack of legal representation for some accused companies.

The former Free State Human Settlements MEC, Olly Mlamleli, still did not appear in court due to health issues.

De Nysschen addressed the controversial arrest of Magashule’s United States-based former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota. He said they are waiting for the extradition process to unfold in the US after the US court found last month that charges against Cholota were extraditable.

Ace Magashule and 18 others were charged with fraud, theft, attempted theft, corruption, and money laundering. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

The state has maintained that it’s ready to proceed with the trial with or without Cholota’s presence in the next court proceedings.

OFM News previously reported, as outlined in Pieter Louis Myburgh’s Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule’s Web of Capture, that Cholota made several requests for money transactions to Mpambani.

‘Kickbacks were given to some of the accused’

The state alleged Limpopo businessman Edwin 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 slain Welkom businessman Igo Mpambani. The tender was irregular, and kickbacks were reportedly given to some of the accused.

OFM News previously reported the State’s Advocate, Nazeer Cassim (SC), argued there was a flagrant breach of Treasury regulations when the controversial multi-million rand project was awarded. It was commissioned to eradicate the asbestos roofs of 30,000 households across the province in 2014.

In this case, the accused include the former Mangaung Mayor, Olly Mlamleli, former Free State Department of Human Settlements head, Nthimotse Mokhesi, Department of Human Settlements supply chain management director, Mahlomola John Matlakala, Johannesburg businessman, Sello Joseph Radebe, Pretoria businessman, Abel Kgotso Manyeki, former national Department of Human Settlements Director-General, Thabane Wiseman Zulu, and Albertus Venter, who occupied a role in the Free State Premier’s office.

The implicated group faces more than 70 counts of fraud, theft, attempted theft, corruption, and money laundering. The accused were released on bail between R50,000 and R500,000.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg