Former ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule, controversial businessman Edwin Sodi, and 15 other individuals involved in the R255 million asbestos case are expected back in court for a pre-trial conference. The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein made this ruling yesterday, where co-accused Moroadi Cholota appeared briefly for the pre-trial proceedings. The new date for the conference will be communicated to all parties involved, with all the accused expected to attend.
Cholota, along with Magashule, Sodi, former Free State Department of Human Settlements officials Ntimose Mokhesi and Sarah Mlamleli, faces multiple charges, including fraud, money laundering, corruption, and violations of the Public Finance Management Act. Cholota, arrested in the United States in April 2024 and extradited to South Africa in August, was granted R2,500 bail despite the state arguing that she was a flight risk. Her bid to have the fraud and money laundering charges declared unconstitutional was dismissed by the court.
During the proceedings, Cholota’s legal team informed the court that they were not ready to proceed with the pre-trial conference or trial due to outstanding financial instructions. However, the state accused the defense of deliberately stalling the process. As the case moves forward, it is alleged that Magashule’s tenure as Free State Premier saw the irregular awarding of an asbestos eradication contract to Sodi’s Blackhead Consulting, without proper procurement procedures.
The trial is scheduled to begin on April 15, 2025, and will run through June 23, 2025, in the Free State High Court. The state is set to present its case against the accused, and the legal battle continues to captivate public attention as key figures in the political and business landscape face serious charges.
