Ace Magashule to appear in court over R255m asbestos contract

The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Ace Magashule is expected to make an appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday, November 13, 2020. This is in relation to a controversial asbestos contract valued at R255 million.

Magashule is first set to first hand himself over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, ahead of his court appearance.

The court precinct will likely be flooded with supporters for the ANC bigwig, many who claim the charges are politically motivated. This includes Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina, who has been one of the most vocal in their backing of Magashule.

A number of streets in Mangaung have been closed in anticipation of protests outside court.

Hundreds of people donning ANC regalia held a “hands-off Magashule” night vigil on Thursday in Bloemfontein.  

Ace Magashule: ‘I have done nothing wrong’

Magashule seems unfazed by the charges, which are yet to disclosed, and maintains he has done nothing wrong as a law-abiding citizen.

“It has been coming all the time so I am not worried at all. The struggle continues,”

ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule

In 2014, the Free State department of human settlements awarded a tender to two companies – Diamond Hill and Blackhead Consulting, to audit and assess houses for asbestos roofs in the province. The project entailed inspecting 300 000 low-cost houses, however it would later be revealed that almost no work was no done, despite the money being paid.

Magashule was the province’s premier at the time and is alleged to have received as much as R10 million from the failed government project.

The tender was riddled with irregularities – as determined by a report from Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

Edwin Sodi, the sole director of Blackhead Consulting, was one of seven suspects who have already been handcuffed for their alleged roles in the project. They appeared in the same court Magashule is expected in and the matter was postponed to February 2021. This is to allow for further investigations and the expected arrests of three more suspects, one who is likely to be Magashule.

Igo Mpambani, the owner of Diamond Hill, was gunned down in his Bentley in Sandton in June 2017. R1 million in cash was found in his car.