Court Case Profiles

Records

Ace Magashule

South African politician, former Premier of the Free State and former ANC Secretary-General, now leader of the African Congress for Transformation (ACT), who is on trial in the R255 million Free State asbestos audit tender case.

FinalLatest source dated 2026-08-20Last reviewed 2026-10-26

What did the court decide?

S v Mokhesi and 17 Others (Free State asbestos case)

Pending
Court
High Court of South Africa, Free State Division, Bloemfontein (first appearance: Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court)
Filed
2020-11-13
Parties
The State (NPA) v. Nthimotse Mokhesi (accused 1), Ace Magashule (accused 13), Edwin Sodi, Thabane Zulu, Olly Mlamleli, Moroadi Cholota and others, plus companies including Blackhead Consulting, 602 Consulting Solutions, Mastertrade 232 and Ori Group — 18 accused in total

Claims. More than 70 charges across all accused, including fraud, theft, corruption, money laundering and PFMA contraventions, relating to the 2014 R255 million Free State Human Settlements asbestos roof audit and removal contract; the State alleges about R27 million was paid in bribes. Magashule faced 21 counts at first appearance.

Decision. No verdict. Interlocutory decisions: SCA refused leave to appeal against the dismissal of the accused's challenge (2 May 2023); trial court upheld Cholota's special plea (3 June 2025), after the Constitutional Court upheld the State's appeal on that point (23 January 2026) and the trial court dismissed her plea (18 February 2026). Postponed on 18 August 2026 to 18 January 2027.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Magashule v African National Congress and Others (suspension challenge)

Final
Court
High Court (Johannesburg); Supreme Court of Appeal; Constitutional Court
Filed
2021
Parties
Ace Magashule v. African National Congress and others

Claims. Challenge to his May 2021 suspension as ANC Secretary-General under the party's step-aside rule.

Decision. Suspension upheld; leave to appeal refused by the High Court (September 2021), the SCA (January 2022) and the Constitutional Court (August 2022), with costs against him.[8]

Sources

  1. Director of Public Prosecutions, Johannesburg and Another v Jonathan Schultz and Others; Director of Public Prosecutions, Bloemfontein v Nomalanga Moroadi Selina Cholota (CCT 280/24; CCT 190/25) [2026] ZACC 03Constitutional Court of South Africa, 2026-01-23, primary source
  2. 'It's really waste of time': Magashule frustrated as asbestos case stallsOFM, 2026-08-20, secondary source
  3. Magashule's bid to have charges dropped dealt a blowOFM, 2023-05-03, secondary source
  4. Corruption-accused Ace Magashule pleads not guilty: 'I'm ready now'Eyewitness News, 2025-04-16, secondary source
  5. 'Nothing I can do about it,' Judge tells Magashule as Free State asbestos trial postponed againThe Citizen, 2025-06-04, secondary source
  6. Court orders Moroadi Cholota to stand trial with Magashule in R255m asbestos caseDaily Maverick, 2026-02-18, secondary source
  7. 'Intention is to break us': Magashule says Free State asbestos trial delay disrupts 2026 election plansThe Citizen, 2025-06-04, secondary source
  8. Ace Magashule loses ConCourt bid to appeal ANC suspensionPolity, 2022-08-11, secondary source

Change history

  • 2026-10-26 Record published.

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