Ace Magashule, 17 Co-Accused Face Trial In Bloemfontein High Court

Former Free State Premier Ace Magashule and 17 co-accused, including businessman Edwin Sodi, are set to face trial in the Bloemfontein High Court for charges related to the R255 million asbestos project.

The project, announced in 2014, aimed to eradicate cancer-causing asbestos roofing in the Free State, but the State alleges that none of the work was done on the 300,000 houses

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Magashule, Sodi, and others are accused of fraud, money laundering, corruption, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

Trial Details And Accused Individuals

The accused include Moroadi Cholota, Magashule’s former personal assistant, who was arrested in the US in April 2024 and extradited to South Africa in August 2024.

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Cholota’s bail was granted despite the State’s argument that she was a flight risk.

Other accused individuals include former head of department Ntimose Mokhesi and former MEC Sarah Mlamleli. The trial is scheduled to proceed from April 15, 2025, to June 23, 2025.

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Court Proceedings, Charges

The State alleges that the contracts between the Department of Human Settlements and Sodi’s company, Blackhead Consulting, were illegal and irregular.

Judge Venter previously dismissed Cholota’s application to have charges against her declared unconstitutional.

Venter stated that she has a case to answer regarding alleged gratifications from businessmen connected to the project.

The court will hear the State’s case against the accused during the trial.

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