Security has been tightened in and around the courtroom at the Bloemfontein High Court on Tuesday, ahead of the court appearance of suspended ANC general secretary Ace Magashule and 15 others for fraud, corruption and money laundering.
During the last court appearance in August, a few ANC members gathered outside the court, saying people had to stay at home due to COVID-19 regulations.
A staunch Magashule supporter Carl Niehaus of the suspended MKMVA says large numbers of ANC supporters will march to the High Court in Bloemfontein.
Before the pre-trail, the roads to the courthouse are closed and the courthouse is cordoned off with barbed wire.
The co-defendants include former human settlements MEC Olly Mlamleli, businessman Edwin Sodi and former head of the human settlements department Nthimotse Mokhesi.
They face more than 70 charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. The charges relate to the alleged improper award of the contract for asbestos removal from roofs dating back to 2014.