The Bloemfontein High Court’s decision to move Ace Magashule’s corruption trial to January 2026 has angered the former premier of the Free State.
Judge Phillip Loubster, who is presiding over the matter at the Bloemfontein High Court, said the trial should be pursued during the first term and the first half of the second term in 2026.
“This trial cannot go on for the next 10 years; I will not allow it. So, we will have to make amends where necessary,” said Loubster.
Magashule is facing charges linked to the R255-million asbestos removal project during his time in office.
Magashule angered by delays
He was arrested in 2020 in connection with the case, and he feels that the numerous delays in the case are unjust and driven by politics.
According to Magashile, the state would always claim to be prepared but still force them to wait in court for 30 minutes for witnesses before offering a new justification at their subsequent appearance.
“They said they are ready. This case is financially burdensome for us; we want to demonstrate our innocence and cooperate with the state so they cannot continue to come here, waste our time, and postpone proceedings,” Magashule said in court after the trial was postponed.
“We also have our commitments. Campaigns must start for next year’s election, as it’s not always about the state.”
Trial is politically motivated
He claimed that the state had no case and was still occupied with making things up, accusing them of purposefully prolonging the issue.
He asserted that the state will eventually be exposed.
“The intention is to break us; the intention is to demoralise our people; the intention was to deal with our political careers, to destabilise us.
“Unfortunately, we are ready to fight against these injustices; they can’t break us. We will not be cowards.
“You will hear other people repeating the same thing to say they were approached to implicate me.
“You will hear them; they will come to this court … I am innocent; I don’t know what I am still doing in this box,” he said.
Cholota’s extradition illegal
He added that more information would surface and the state would be embarrassed.
Magashule and 17 other co-accused are charged with fraud, corruption, and money laundering in the trial, which started on April 15 and revolves around a 2014 tender to remove asbestos roofing from affordable housing.
The high court ruled on Tuesday that it was illegal to extradite Moroadi Cholota, Magashule’s former personal assistant, from the US.
No matter how thoroughly they investigated Cholota, Magashule asserted, nothing would turn up. “I am upset because people perceive us as corrupt,” Magashule said.
