Former ANC secretary-general and Free State Premier Ace Magashule, his former personal assistant Moroadi Cholota (37), controversial businessman Edwin Sodi, and fifteen other accused in the R255 million asbestos case are expected in court for a pre-trial date. This was ruled yesterday by the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein, where Cholota briefly appeared for a pre-trial conference.

ALL ACCUSED EXPECTED IN COURT

NPA Free State spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said a new date for the pre-trial conference will be communicated to all parties and all the accused are expected to be in court. Cholota and her co-accused, including Sodi, Magashule, former head of department Ntimose Mokhesi, former MEC Sarah Mlamleli and others face charges of fraud, money laundering, corruption and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. Cholota was arrested in the US in April 2024 and extradited to South Africa in August last year. She was granted R2 500 bail, despite the state arguing that she was a flight risk. The court also dismissed her application to have fraud and money laundering charges against her be declared unconstitutional.

PRE-TRIAL

During yesterday's court proceedings, Cholota's legal representative informed the court that they were not ready to proceed with the pre-trial conference or the trial due to outstanding financial instructions. But the state argued that their reasons for the delay were part of a deliberate stalling tactic.

ALLEGATIONS

Senokoatsane said it is alleged that during Magashule's tenure as Free State Premier, the Department of Human Settlements irregularly awarded an R255 million asbestos eradication contract to a joint venture between Edwin Sodi's Blackhead Consulting (Pty) Ltd and Diamond Hill Trading, without following proper procurement procedure. "Previously, Magashule, Sodi, Blackhead Consulting, and Thabane Zulu applied to have the High Court rule that there was no prima facie case against them. However, the court dismissed their application," Senokoatsane said. He added,"The trial is scheduled to proceed in the Free State High Court from 15 April 2025 to 23 June 2025, during which the state will present its case against the accused."