Staff Reporter
Up to three more suspects could be added to the number of the accused in the failed Free State asbestos audit project, the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday.
State prosecutor Advocate Lefalake Bouman Mpemvane told the court, when the seven accused persons in the matter made a second court appearance, that investigations into the matter were continuing and more suspects were being probed to establish their possible involvement in the tainted project believed to have cost the provincial government about R255 million.
“The case before court was previously postponed for the purposes of further investigations and possibly adding more suspects,” said Mpemvane, referring to the previous postponement on October 2.
“Investigations are still continuing . . . plus or minus three suspects could be added to the matter. . . and we would like to request that the case be postponed to the 19th of February 2021,” he added.
The prosecutor said investigators were now in the process of putting together forensic evidence that would be key to the case when it goes to trial and the postponement should allow them to finalise their work and bring in the additional suspects.
Those already charged in the matter include: 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.
They are jointly charges 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.
The accused are all out on bail of between R50 000 and R500 000.
ANC secretary general Ace Magashule was this week linked to the asbestos debacle and a warrant for his arrest was issued on Tuesday.
He is expected to appear in the same court on Friday facing fraud and corruption charges.
Magashule was the premier of the Free State when the asbestos contract was awarded to a joint venture between Blackhead Consulting, Diamond Hill Trading 71 (Pty) Ltd in 2014.
His actual role in the alleged scandal is expected to be clarified when he is formally charged in court.
The state further promised court during today’s hearing that if the anticipated suspects are successfully added to the case by early next year, the case could be ready for trial.
“If all suspects are added before the 19th of February next year, the state will be ready to move the case to the high court for trial,” said Mpemvane.