The Free State High Court has issued a sweeping order freezing R32 million in assets belonging to former Free State Premier Ace Magashule and his co-accused, marking a significant development in the long-running asbestos housing corruption case.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit, in collaboration with the Hawks, seized six properties and a luxury Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG valued at R2 million—reportedly purchased in cash with funds allegedly siphoned from the Free State Department of Human Settlements.
Investigators uncovered a sophisticated money-laundering network involving attorneys, high-end car dealerships, and real estate agencies allegedly used to disguise the illicit origins of the money. The NPA asserts these assets were acquired through corrupt activities linked to the failed asbestos roof removal project, which was meant to benefit impoverished homeowners.
“This preservation order prevents any disposal of these assets while the State builds its case to permanently confiscate them,” said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga. The move follows a 2020 restraint order for R300 million related to the same scandal.
Magashule faces trial alongside seven co-accused, including his former PA Moroadi Cholota, businessman Edwin Sodi, and ex-MEC Olly Mlamleli. The case stems from findings by the State Capture Commission, which revealed systemic corruption in the R255 million asbestos audit contract awarded to Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading.
The latest seizures signal prosecutors’ intensified efforts to recover stolen state funds as South Africa continues grappling with high-profile corruption cases. With the criminal trial ongoing, authorities aim to demonstrate that ill-gotten gains won’t escape accountability.