Ace Magashule

Magashule is being prosecuted alongside several co-defendants in the case concerning a 255-million-rand contract to identify and remove asbestos roofs in the Free State. Charges include corruption, fraud and money laundering. The trial experienced numerous delays and interlocutory proceedings and remained pending in 2026.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following his indictment in the asbestos case, the ANC suspended Magashule as Secretary-General under its "step aside" rule. Magashule challenged the measure and in turn attempted to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa. In July 2021, the High Court upheld his suspension. The break with the ANC subsequently deepened until his expulsion in 2023.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Zondo Commission concluded that the Vrede/Estina dairy project, intended to assist black farmers, had been diverted for the benefit of Gupta-linked interests. The report criticised Magashule's role and oversight failures as Free State Premier and recommended investigations and recovery actions involving those implicated.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

The Zondo Commission described a Free State housing programme worth approximately one billion rand as a debacle, in which very substantial sums had been paid while results were profoundly inadequate. It particularly criticised Magashule, then Premier, for failing to hold his MEC Mosebenzi Zwane accountable for managing the programme.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The period in which Magashule dominated the Free State ANC was marked by several legal challenges over provincial conferences. The Constitutional Court annulled the June 2012 conference because of irregularities affecting members' rights; other provincial conferences were subsequently also declared invalid or unconstitutional by the courts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Press investigations alleged that companies or structures linked to his daughter Thoko Malembe had benefited from contracts and transactions with Free State bodies, including housing tenders and property acquisitions. In 2018, the DA filed a criminal complaint alleging that Magashule had used his influence to favour a contract worth approximately 150 million rand linked to one of these companies.