Suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has failed in a court bid to stop the corruption case against him, meaning he remains politically sidelined ahead of the ANC’s national elective conference in December.
Magashule and four others, including controversial businessperson Edwin Sodi and his business Blackhead Consulting, have lost their interlocutory applications in the high court in the Free State. The applications, which were geared at unravelling the main asbestos corruption case, have failed.
The ANC secretary-general has been in the political wilderness after fraud corruption and money-laundering charges were levelled against him and the party ordered him to temporarily step aside.
Despite the suspension, which Magashule unsuccessfully challenged in court, he has remained active in the political arena He has on numerous occasions showed up to support former president Jacob Zuma and other members of the radical economic transformation faction at court appearances, and has attended prayer services with a political bent.
The ruling has effectively dented his prospects of taking part in the party’s leadership contest in December and could possibly pave the way for the smooth re-election of Ramaphosa in December.
Had the interlocutory applications succeeded, they could have paved the way for Magashule to stage — or, at least, attempt — a political comeback. The multimillion-rand corruption case happened while he was the Free State premier. Magashule allegedly centralised power and had a handle on lucrative provincial contracts. He denies any wrongdoing. Sodi’s company, Blackhead Consulting, benefited handsomely from the project.
Sodi testified at the Zondo commission about the asbestos audit and another allegedly corrupt Free State housing audit, also signed off when Magashule was premier. An analysis of both suspected swindles is expected in the final volumes of the full state capture inquiry report due at the end of April.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga welcomed the court’s ruling to dismiss the interlocutory applications with costs.
“We have always maintained that all the matters raised by the accused should be ventilated by the trial court when the trial proceedings commence. The NPA has full confidence in the strength of its case and will let the evidence speak for itself during the trial,” he said.
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