An Ace in the hole, with Karyn Maughan

Loading player...
Today on The Lead, we cross to Bloemfontein where specialist legal journalist Karyn Maughan was in the Free State High Court, where former premier Ace Magashule pleaded not guilty to allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering charges in the asbestos tender scam trial. The former ANC Secretary-General and 17 others, including businessman Edwin Sodi are in the dock in connection with the R255-million scheme to audit and remove asbestos from Free State homes. State prosecutors have dubbed the case as a “thieves’ picnic”. Maughan discusses what happened in court today, including how Magashule asked whether the state was confident about their charges against him. Later we look at how National Institute for Communicable Diseases has declared South Africa’s flu season open as well as who the lucky winner of the R110 million PowerBall jackpot is. Mail your comments and voice notes to thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.
16 Apr English South Africa News · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

The big, beautiful Trump tariff explainer with William Brederode

In less than a month, South African produce and products being shipped to America will face remarkably higher tariffs. This came after US President Donald Trump signed a letter to Pretoria, stating that 30% tariffs on certain South African exports will be effective from 1 August. President Cyril Ramaphosa, currently…
8 Jul 38 min

Is the SAPS captured? With Jeff Wicks

The gloves are off. In a startling Sunday press conference, KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, publicly claimed that the heart of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been captured. Mkhwanazi alleges that Minister Senzo Mchunu has ties to the underworld and, together with deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya…
7 Jul 22 min

Charting the DA and ANC’s GNU collision course with Jan Gerber

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s surprise axing of DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield has again set the cat among the government of national unity’s (GNU) pigeons. First, the DA issued the ANC an ultimatum: fire all ministers accused of corruption or forfeit its friendly budget vote. Since then, the DA has singled out two…
2 Jul 33 min