Staff Reporter
Suspended ANC secretary general and former Free State premier Ace Magashule is expected to appear in the Free State High Court today together with several co-accused for a pre-trial conference for a corruption case emanating from a failed asbestos audit and removal project in the province.
Magashule and his 15 co-accused who include five companies face over 70 charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
The case comes from a contract worth over R255 million to audit and remove asbestos roofing on houses across the province which was allegedly irregularly awarded.
The other accused in the matter are: head at the Free State Department of Human Settlements Nthimotse Mokhesi, 61; the department’s director for supply chain management Mahlomola John Matlakala, 42; Johannesburg businessman and owner of Blackhead Consulting (Pty), Pheagane Edwin Sodi, 47; Fourways businessman Sello Joseph Radebe, 56; Pretoria businessman Abel Kgotso Manyeki, 38; former director-general at the National Department of Human Settlements, Thabane Wiseman Zulu, 53; former Free State MEC for Human Settlements and mayor of Mangaung, Sarah Matawana Mlamleli, 63, provincial human settlements department chief financial officer Nozipho Molikoe, 40; project management unit director, Thabiso Makepe, 42; and Albertus Venter, 64, an attorney who was a senior official in Magashule’s office during his tenure as Free State premier.
They are jointly charged with five companies, namely Blackhead Consulting, Diamond Hill Trading 71 (Pty) Ltd whose owner Igo Mpambani was murdered in 2017, 605 Consulting Solutions (Pty) Ltd owned by Mpambani’s widow Michele, Mastertrade 232 (Pty) Ltd and Ori Group (Pty) Ltd.
It is alleged that various payments were made by the provincial human settlements department to Diamond Hill Trading 71-Blackhead JV of which Phikolomzi Mpambani and Sodi were the account holders.
This is after the company was appointed by Mokhesi as a service provider for the project.
According to the state, Magashule, in August 2015, corruptly accepted gratification of R53 550, paid on his request towards the tuition fees of the daughter of a then acting judge from Mpambani.
It is further alleged that in June 2015, Magashule accepted payment of R470 000, paid on his request to M-TAG Systems for the acquisition of 200 electronic tablets from Mpambani.
Furthermore, it is alleged that in June 2015, Magashule accepted a payment of R30 000, paid on his request to SWC Nkate from Mpambani.
Between November 2015 and January 2016, a payment of R 250 000, on his request, was made by Mpambani to Astra Travel towards travel expenses of a delegation to Cuba.
It is further alleged that Magashule failed to report corrupt transactions in contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004.