This, after he appeared in court in Bloemfontein on Friday for the continuation of a preliminary hearing in connection with the R255 million failed asbestos project.

The former Free State prime minister and ANC Secretary-General said the charges against him were only intended to keep him out of the race for an ANC position.

He missed out on the ANC's 55th National Elective Conference - held in Nasrec in Johannesburg in December 2022 – due to the party’s so-called “step aside” policy. He was charged by the Hawks for his alleged involvement in the 2014 project, where millions of rands were alleged to have been looted from the provincial government’s coffers by businessmen, government officials, and companies.

Magashule has since reiterated that he is innocent and that he has never stolen a cent from government.

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"I hope that this case will be resolved speedily. I am ready because I know that I've not done anything wrong; I've not stolen a cent from government,” Magashule added.

On Friday the Free State High Court postponed the case against Magashule and 17 others to allow for a decision by the Bloemfontein-based Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

This after he and others challenged an early decision by Judge Soma Naidoo, who dismissed  their application to have charges against them dropped.

ALSO READ: #AsbestosGate: Magashule dealt a blow

The case was postponed to 5 May 2023.

OFM News