FORMER Free State premier Ace Magashule said the controversial asbestos case was a futile exercise because the state has nothing to accuse him of.
Magashule appeared in the Free State High Court on Monday, 15 April, for the asbestos scandal where R255 million tender was allegedly irregularly awarded.
Magashule, businessman Edwin Sodi, former Free State human settlements MEC Olly Mlamleli, and others are facing charges including corruption, fraud, money laundering, and Contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, among other charges.
The main aim of the multimillion project was to remove asbestos roofing on 30 000 houses across the Free State.
It's alleged that R255 million was paid without any work being done. Magashule allegedly received one million rand between 2015 and 2016.
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But Magashule told the media outside the court on Monday that the asbestos roof removal case was just a smear campaign against him.
Magashule said the arrest of his former personal assistant, Morwadi Cholata, was just harassment.
"Our lawyers were ready to proceed with a pre-trial. Even the next court appearance will be postponed. This year, I will go without sitting down and discussing the case. The case was influenced by politics.
“I'm happy that the American embassy and state security have been exposed. The spies of the United State within the ANC have been exposed. I wish names can come out. It's painful that Morwadi Cholata was arrested in a foreign country," he said.
The high court heard that Cholota was arrested over the weekend and will be part of the accused in the next court appearance.
The case was postponed to Friday, 14 June.
