Staff Reporter
ANC secretary general Ace Magashule is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday facing charges of fraud and corruption charges relating to a failed asbestos audit project in the Free State.
The Hawks in the Free State confirmed to journalists on Tuesday afternoon that a warrant of arrest had been issued against Magashule, who is also the former premier of the province.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Lynda Steyn said the warrant was signed by the acting director of public prosecutions in the Free State, Advocate Navilla Somaru.
“His lawyer has been notified . . . there have been plans made for him to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday,” said Steyn, confirming plans were being put in place for the court appearance.
Magashule’s warrant of arrest comes several weeks after arrest of seven suspects linked to the R255 million asbestos corruption case.
The suspects who include the former MEC for human settlements, Olly Mlamleli, were rounded up across three provinces — Gauteng, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal — at the end of September before making their initial court appearance on October 2.
At that time the Hawks dismissed claims of Magashule’s imminent arrest.
Steyn said the police elite unit had to make sure there was enough evidence before proceeding with the case against the ANC stalwart.
The investigation had to be completed before the arrest could be made.
“The anti-corruption unit in the Free State has been working very hard to unravel the case and ensure there is enough evidence to have a warrant of arrest issued,” said the Hawks spokesperson.
The suspects, who are expected back in court tomorrow, were released on bail of between R50 000 and R500 000.
The accused are: Nthimotse Mokhesi, 61, former head of department, Free State human settlements; Mahlomola John Matlakala, 42, former director for supply chain management at the human settlements department; Pheagane Edwin Sodi, 47, of Bryanston, Johannesburg, and owner of Blackhead Consulting (Pty); Sello Joseph Radebe, 56, a businessman from Fourways in Johannesburg; Abel Kgotso Manyeki, 38, a businessman from Clubview in Pretoria; Thabane Wiseman Zulu, 53, a former director general at then national department of human settlements; and Mlamleli, 63, who is also a former mayor of Mangaung.
The seven appeared along five companies: Blackhead Consulting, Diamond Hill Trading 71 (Pty) Ltd, 605 Consulting Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Mastertrade 232 (Pty) Ltd, and Ori Group (Pty) Ltd.
They face charges that include fraud, theft, attempted theft, corruption in contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, money laundering in contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998 as well as the contravention of various Asbestos Regulations, promulgated in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993.
The state alleges that fraud to the value of R255 million was committed in the appointment of Blackhead Consulting in 2014 as a service provider to the Department of Human Settlements in the Free State for the “assessment and removal of asbestos roofs and/or housing” but the work was never completed.