Article by: Dumisane Dube
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says they will closely monitor the trial of former Premier of the Free State, Ace Magashule, that commences 11 August 2021 in Bloemfontein.
Magashule faces 74 charges of fraud, corruption and money-laundering in the Free State High Court, together with fifteen others, including the former Mayor of Mangaung, Olly.
The DA says it believes that ANC Secretary General was not only criminally negligent in his duty to report the corrupt contract to law enforcement agencies, but allegedly also personally received or directed payments of at least R1,1 million from one of the contractors, Igo Mpambani, who was later assassinated under mysterious circumstances.
In a statement released by DA on Wednesday the party says “It remains clear that this contract was intended purely to misappropriate R255 million from the coffers of the Department of Human Settlements, and into the hands of various contractors and politicians.
The DA are satisfied that the accused will be brought to justice and that the allegations will be tested before a competent court. The wheels of justice have finally enabled this final act of reckoning, where leaders will be held accountable for their treachery and deceit.”
Meanwhile the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it has not received papers from Magashule, despite reports that he has approached the High Court to try and compel the NPA to disclose the full indictment in his corruption case.
“I can confirm that the prosecution team has not received any application or papers filed by Mr Magashule in respect of the matter of the asbestos. We will be proceeding on the 11th of August with the pre-trial conference after which hopefully we will get a date set for the trial to resume,” says NPA Spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.
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