SUSPENDED ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule and his 15 co-accused are expected back in the Bloemfontein High Court on Wednesday to face a total of 74 charges.
Magashule is also expected to apply to the court to be tried separately from former Mangaung mayor Olly Mlamleli, controversial businessman Edwin Sodi and others.
The former Free State Premier and his co-accused face fraud, theft, corruption and money laundering charges in connection with the R500 million asbestos removal contracts in the Free State.
The charges relate to the alleged irregular awarding of the R255-million asbestos roof removal contract.
Following his indictment, Magashule appeared before the ANC’s Integrity Commission on December 12, 2020.
On May 3, 2021, the Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte informed Magashule that he was temporarily suspended.
Meanwhile, Magashule has taken the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to court for allegedly failing to hand over his full indictment.
Magashule claimed the NPA left out crucial information when handing over his indictment, and accused the authority of political conspiracy by using delay tactics.
He wants the Bloemfontein High Court to force the NPA to produce affidavits of its key state witness and his former personal assistant Moroadi Cholota.
The NPA had earlier claimed Cholota had turned state witness and was co-operating on key evidence it sought on the corruption allegations against her former boss.
– Inside Politics
