Ace Magashule

South African ruling Party African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Ace Magashule gives a press briefing on February 13, 2018 on the outcome of the ANC National Executive Committee, in Johannesburg at party’s headquarters. – South Africa’s ruling ANC party said it expected scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma to respond on February 14, 2018 to its decision to “recall” him from office. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)

Magashule’s former PA key witness in asbestos case

Ace Magashule is facing charges of corruption, money laundering and fraud for his alleged involvement in the R255 million asbestos debacle.

Ace Magashule

South African ruling Party African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Ace Magashule gives a press briefing on February 13, 2018 on the outcome of the ANC National Executive Committee, in Johannesburg at party’s headquarters. – South Africa’s ruling ANC party said it expected scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma to respond on February 14, 2018 to its decision to “recall” him from office. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)

The ANC Secretary General’s former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota has been revealed to be a state witness in the asbestos housing audit case.

Prosecutor Johan De Nysschen revealed this during SG Ace Magashule’s appearance before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The former Free State Premier is facing 20 charges of corruption, money laundering and fraud for his alleged involvement in the R255 million asbestos housing audit debacle. 

NO EVIDENCE TO PROVE MAGASHULE POCKETED FUNDS

Magashule’s legal counsel confirms there is no evidence that proves his client pocketed any of the funds that were meant for the 2013/14 project. This confirms the Daily Maverick’s reports, that the case against Magashule is centred around payments made to third parties at his instruction. De Nysschen has requested that bail be set at R 250 000 in light of the seriousness of the case. Magashule’s legal counsel claims he cannot afford bail of over R 20 000.

His co-accused include Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Johannesburg company Blackhead Consulting, Edwin Sodi, former head of the Free State Human Settlements Department Nthimotse Mokhesi;  businessman Sello Radebe; the former Director-General (DG) of the National Human Settlements Department Thabane Zulu; and former Mangaung Metro Mayor Olly Mlamleli amongst others. They were granted bail in early October 2020 of between R 50 000 and R 500 000.

ACCUSED COULD BE JAILED FOR UP TO 15 YEARS

At the time of the bail applications, De Nysschen stressed the seriousness of the charges adding they could land any one of the accused in jail for up to 15 years. De Nysschen also revealed the investigation into the matter is between 80 and 85% complete.

Sodi was awarded a R255 million rand worth tender in a joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading owned by slain Welkom businessman, Igo Mpambani by the Free State Human Settlements Department in 2014. Sodi previously admitted failure to declare that his company had no accreditation to carry out the entire project to the State Capture Commission of Inquiry.

He further revealed he invested in residential property in Bloemfontein with Mokhesi. The former provincial human settlements head during his own testimony before the commission could not respond to questions as to why Sodi invested R650 000 in the house he lived in just months after his department awarded the joint venture the R255 million contract.

Zulu on the other end is said to have benefited from a R600 000 payment towards the purchase of a Ranger Rover made by Sodi in KwaZulu-Natal, on December 2016. Mlamleli was the then MEC of the provincial human settlements departments.