Magashule, who was represented by senior legal eagle Laurence Hodes, was ordered to hand over his passport, which he already did beforehand, and to stay away from his former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota. He is facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

Prosecutor Johan de Nysschen revealed Cholota, who is currently studying in the United States of America (USA), is a key witness in the state’s case against Magashule. Hodes claimed during proceedings that Magashule has R700 000 in immovable assets and could only afford R20 000 bail. Hodes has also alleged there is no evidence that proves his client directly benefitted from any of the funds that were meant for the 2013/14 project. This confirms reports that the case against Magashule is with regards to payments made to third parties, as per his instruction.

This bail amount is the second-highest in the case. His co-accused Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Johannesburg company Blackhead Consulting, Edwin Sodi, was granted bail of R500 000. Whilst the others - former head of the Free State Human Settlements Department Nthimotse Mokhesi; businessman Sello Radebe; the former Director-General (DG) of the National Human Settlements Department Thabane Zulu; and former Mangaung Metro Mayor Olly Mlamleli - were granted bail of R100 000 respectively.

Sodi was awarded a tender worth R255 million in a joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading, owned by slain Welkom businessman, Igo Mpambani, by the Free State Human Settlements Department in 2014. Sodi previously admitted failure to the State Capture Commission of Inquiry to declare that his company had no accreditation to carry out the entire project. He further revealed he invested in residential property in Bloemfontein with Mokhesi. The former provincial human settlements head, during his own testimony before the commission, could not respond to questions as to why Sodi invested R650 000 in the house he lived in just months after his department awarded the joint venture the R255 million contract. Zulu on the other end is said to have benefited from a R600 000 payment towards the purchase of a Range Rover made by Sodi in KwaZulu-Natal, in December 2016. Mlamleli was the then Free State MEC of Human Settlements. The case was subject to investigation by the Public Prosecutor, Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

The ANC SG was flanked by his close allies in court today. They included the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in the Free State, Sam Mashinini and William Bulwane, Mangaung Metro Council Speaker Mxolisi Siyonzana, and ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe.

Former North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo, and former State Security Minister, Bongani Bongo, also managed to touch down at the building where the former Free State Premier handed himself over to the Hawks, but were unable to enter the courthouse for proceedings. Mahumapelo, who is now a Member of Parliament (MP) said earlier they believe in Magashule’s innocence and call on ANC leadership to respect the legal processes.

The case is postponed to February 2021.

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