Twitter (@Magashule_Ace)
ANC secretary-general, Ace Magashule, made a brief appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Friday, saying afterwards that he's looking forward to his trial in the High Court.
Magashule has been charged along with several other co-accused in the multi-million rand Free State asbestos housing project scandal.
Three new suspects made their first appearance alongside Magashule on Friday and were granted bail of R50 000 each.
They are Nozipho Molokoe, the former Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Human Settlements, Thabiso Makepe who was the Chief Engineer at the Department and Albertus Venter, who is a lawyer heading the legal department in the Free State office of the Premier.
A total of ten suspects face 70 counts of fraud, theft, attempted theft, corruption in contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, and money-laundering, amongst others.
They will be held accountable on charges of contravening various asbestos regulations, promulgated in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.
The rest of the accused are also out on bail of R50 000 to R500 000.
Those who are facing prosecution include Nthimotse Mokhesi (61), the Head of Department: FS Human Settlements;
Mahlomola John Matlakala (42), the Director for Supply Chain Management at Human Settlements;
Pheagane Edwin Sodi (47) of Bryanston, Johannesburg, and owner of Blackhead Consulting (Pty);
Sello Joseph Radebe (56), a businessman from Fourways, Johannesburg;
Abel Kgotso Manyeki (38), a businessman from Clubview, Pretoria;
Thabane Wiseman Zulu (53), the former Director-General for the National Department of Human Settlements;
Ollie Mlamleli (63) of Bloemfontein, who was the MEC of Human Settlements and a former Mayor of Mangaung.
They appeared alongside five companies, Blackhead Consulting, Diamond Hill Trading 71 (Pty) Ltd, 605 Consulting Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Mastertrade 232 (Pty) Ltd, and Ori Group (Pty) Ltd.
The matter was postponed to 11 August 2021 for a pre-trial conference.
(Additional reporting from our sister station OFM in Bloemfontein)
