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Seven suspects made a brief appearance at Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where the matter was postponed in February next year.
FILE: The 7 suspects in the corruption case of the Free State asbestos removal project appear in Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on October 2, 2020. Image: Nthakoana Ngatane / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – The National Prosecutor’s Office (NPA) is exploring the possibility of adding three more suspects to the corruption case related to the multi-million dollar asbestos tender.
Seven suspects made a brief appearance at Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where the matter was postponed until February next year.
The State requests time to conduct further investigations.
African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Ace Magashule is expected to appear in court in Bloemfontein on Friday in connection with the project.
• ALSO READ: Magashule will cooperate with authorities and be in court on Friday – ANC
The seven suspects, which included senior government officials and business owners, received bail of between 50,000 and 500,000 rand.
They were accused of corruption, fraud and the contravention of various regulations on asbestos as established in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The Free State government has come under fire after paying 255 million rand to companies for the removal of asbestos from various homes in the province.
The transfers were approved despite the fact that no work had been done, and some of the beneficiaries were found to have strong ties to the ANC.
The state is seeking to have the matter transferred to a higher court as it works to toughen its case in the matter that some believe will be a litmus test for the NPA.
OBSERVE: Edwin Sodi and Blackhead Consulting Asset Seizure
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