Cape Town – The leader of the African Congress for Transformation (ACT), Ace Magashule, has labelled the delay in his R255 million asbestos case as political.
Magashule and 17 others, including multiple companies, face corruption charges related to an asbestos roof removal project in the Free State.
The Free State High Court on Monday postponed the case to June 14.
According to SABC, Magashule said that the delay was politically motivated, citing recent revelations by the American Embassy and State Security about spies within the ANC.
ACT president Ace Magashule says the timing of the case is hindering with his campaign and is aimed at tarnishing his name. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/Do3FtYewl5
— Aphumelele Mdlalane (@AphumeleleMdla2) April 15, 2024
“This is politics and I’m happy that the American Embassy and State Security has exposed some spies within the ANC, they have been exposed. .. We have told people that these people are captured, they are working for their masters. And I don’t know what people of South Africa still want to see and that is why we say this is the time to vote organisations like African Congress for Transformation,” the report quoted Magashule as saying.
Meanwhile, IOL reported that Magashule’s former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota, was arrested in the United States and faced extradition to South Africa.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed the arrest of Cholota by American authorities.
MASSIVE TROUBLE LOOMING FOR ACE MAGASHULE:
The NPA has confirmed that a key witness in the Asbestos case, Ms Moroadi Cholota ex-PA of Ace Magashule has been ARRESTED in America over the weekend. Cholota was the person who solicited money from business for Ace Magashule. This is… pic.twitter.com/YRzav3Imbw
— Goolam (@goolammv) April 15, 2024
Magashule, along with his co-accused, including individuals like Edwin Sodi, is facing charges of corruption and fraud linked to the Free State’s R255 million asbestos contract.
Allegedly, the Free State Department of Human Settlement awarded the contract to the Blackhead Consulting joint venture around six years ago. The venture was tasked with auditing, assessing, and removing asbestos from homes in some of the Free State’s most impoverished areas.
Magashule is out on R200,000 bail, which was extended.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
