Former Free State Premier Ace Magashule and 16 others will have to wait another six months for their day in court following the postponement of their high-profile asbestos trial.
The trial was expected to resume at the Bloemfontein High Court on Wednesday, after the conclusion of the trial-within-a-trial, which saw Magashule’s former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota, walk free after her extradition from the United States (US) was overturned.
The State said there’s a reasonable chance it would appeal that judgment, adding that Cholota was central to its case.
Asbestos trial involving Ace Magashule
While the application for leave to appeal is set down for next Friday, the main trial has been pushed back to January 2026.
“The State believes that there is evidence that implicates Ms Cholota and therefore, we’d want to see her stand trial,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) national spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.
“Unfortunately, the judge is yet to give us a full written judgment upon which a decisive determination on the grounds of appeal and a final decision made whether to apply for leave to appeal.”
A frustrated but confident Magashule said the State was only delaying the inevitable.
“The State is playing games here. They know they don’t have a case, and they are still going to be embarrassed, you will see. We are ready to embarrass the State.”
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