Staff Reporter
Mangaung Metro Municipality has announced the closure of major roads around the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court tomorrow morning ahead of an appearance by ANC secretary general Ace Magashule.
The move is in anticipation of the crowds that might want to witness the initial court appearance by the former Free State premier, who has been linked to a failed asbestos audit project in the province involving about R255 million.
In a statement, municipal spokesperson Qondile Khedama said President Brand Street will be closed between President Boshoff and St Andrews Street.
St George Street will also be inaccessible between Markgraaff and Westburger Streets.
“The streets will be closed from midnight until after the court proceedings,” read part of Khedama’s statement.
“Members of the public are requested to use alternative routes for the duration of the closure,” he added.
Magashule is expected to be formally charged for fraud and corruption when he appears in court.
A warrant for his arrest was issued on Tuesday and he is expected to hand himself to the police on Friday morning before proceeding to court.
Seven suspects, who include former MEC for human settlements Olly Mlamleli, have already appeared in the same court and are out on bail ranging from R50 000 to R500 000.
Magashule will join the other suspects once he is formally charged.
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 the then national department of human settlements; and Mlamleli, 63, who is also a former mayor of Mangaung.
The seven are jointly charged together with 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.
Magashule was the premier of the Free State when the contract was awarded.