ActionSA welcomes the recent R32 million preservation order granted by the Free State High Court, targeting assets linked to individuals implicated in the infamous R255 million asbestos housing scandal. This is a long-overdue and critical step by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in reclaiming public funds stolen from the people of the Free State under the guise of service delivery.
While this development signals some progress in the broader pursuit of justice, we are clear-eyed: this is not enough. The scale of the corruption, the number of accused, and the suffering inflicted on vulnerable communities demand a far more comprehensive response.
This order, freezing six immovable properties and a luxury vehicle allegedly bought with looted funds, should be the beginning, not the end. We remain deeply concerned that former Premier Ace Magashule, central to the political machinery during the period of this grand-scale looting, is not included in this specific preservation order. His exclusion raises serious questions, particularly when he stands accused alongside 17 others in the criminal trial that has dragged on for years with repeated delays.
The people of the Free State deserve more than symbolic action. They deserve justice that is swift, complete, and impartial. The asbestos housing tender scandal is not only a financial crime, it is a betrayal of public trust and a violation of human rights. Thousands of homes still contain dangerous asbestos, and families continue to live in hazardous conditions with no recourse or relief.
We reiterate our call for:
• The immediate implementation of the Zondo Commission’s recommendations related to this scandal.
• Accelerated criminal prosecutions of all those implicated, including political figures and their private-sector enablers.
• Full asset recovery to ensure that stolen funds are returned to communities who were robbed of safety and dignity.
• Transparent reporting by the NPA on the progress of the asbestos case and all associated asset forfeiture actions.
ActionSA will continue to hold those in power accountable and will not rest until the Free State is free from the rot of corruption. This preservation order is a positive step, but we demand the full measure of justice for every citizen whose life was compromised by this shameful chapter.
Let this not be another headline, let it be the beginning of true, people-centred justice.
ActionSA Welcomes R32 Million Preservation Order but Demands Broader Accountability in Asbestos Corruption Scandal
ActionSA welcomes the recent R32 million preservation order granted by the Free State High Court, targeting assets linked to individuals implicated in the infamous R255 million asbestos housing scandal. This is a long-overdue and critical step by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in reclaiming public funds stolen from the people of the Free State under the guise of service delivery.
While this development signals some progress in the broader pursuit of justice, we are clear-eyed: this is not enough. The scale of the corruption, the number of accused, and the suffering inflicted on vulnerable communities demand a far more comprehensive response.
This order, freezing six immovable properties and a luxury vehicle allegedly bought with looted funds, should be the beginning, not the end. We remain deeply concerned that former Premier Ace Magashule, central to the political machinery during the period of this grand-scale looting, is not included in this specific preservation order. His exclusion raises serious questions, particularly when he stands accused alongside 17 others in the criminal trial that has dragged on for years with repeated delays.
The people of the Free State deserve more than symbolic action. They deserve justice that is swift, complete, and impartial. The asbestos housing tender scandal is not only a financial crime, it is a betrayal of public trust and a violation of human rights. Thousands of homes still contain dangerous asbestos, and families continue to live in hazardous conditions with no recourse or relief.
We reiterate our call for:
• The immediate implementation of the Zondo Commission’s recommendations related to this scandal.
• Accelerated criminal prosecutions of all those implicated, including political figures and their private-sector enablers.
• Full asset recovery to ensure that stolen funds are returned to communities who were robbed of safety and dignity.
• Transparent reporting by the NPA on the progress of the asbestos case and all associated asset forfeiture actions.
ActionSA will continue to hold those in power accountable and will not rest until the Free State is free from the rot of corruption. This preservation order is a positive step, but we demand the full measure of justice for every citizen whose life was compromised by this shameful chapter.
Let this not be another headline, let it be the beginning of true, people-centred justice.