Trial against graft-accused Ace Magashule finally set to begin in Bloemfontein High Court
The former ANC secretary general and Free State Premier is accused, alongside 17 others, of over 70 counts of fraud, corruption, and money laundering, among others.
Former ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule in the Bloemfontein High Court on 5 May 2023 for his role of awarding a tender to replace asbestos roofs in Free State. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - It’s D-Day for graft-accused former African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General and Free State Premier Ace Magashule, with his trial finally set to get underway in the High Court in Bloemfontein on Monday.
Magashule is accused alongside 17 others, including controversial businessman Edwin Sodi, of a total of more than 70 counts of fraud, corruption, and money laundering, among others.
The charges relate to a R255 million contract to identify and eradicate asbestos roofing on low-cost houses across Free State.
In 2014, the contract was awarded to a joint venture between Sodi’s locally-based engineering firm, Blackhead Consulting, and a company called Diamond Hill Trading.
Ace Magashule and his co-accused stand allegedly received massive kickbacks for their roles in the scheme, where it's alleged that little to no work on the contract was ever actually done.
They tried to challenge their prosecution, but the high court dismissed their matter in March 2022.
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) then followed suit in May 2023, ruling there were “no reasonable prospects of success” on appeal.
The trial has been set down to run for more than two months until 23 June.