It came to light today that Isaac Seoe, convicted fraudster as well as friend and former business partner of the Free State premier, Ace Magashule, is the owner of the building wherein the offices of the Free State Legislature are situated.
Seoe is the executive director of Robs Properties that owns the building. The lease that the Legislature entered into with Robs Properties on 1 June 2017 is binding for 10 years and entails monthly rent of approximately R820 000.
The FF Plus learnt that the Legislature is up to date with its lease payments to Robs Properties, but today the power supply to the building was cut off because apparently Robs Properties has outstanding debt with the electricity supplier, Centlec.
So, now Seoe’s conviction is affecting the functioning of the offices of the Free State Legislature that were literally left in the dark due to the alleged non-payment of electricity.
This is the legacy of Magashule’s partnership with Seoe and other controversial figures: a provincial government where the lights have literally gone out.
This past week, the Free State High Court found Seoe guilty of fraud of R30 million relating to an education tender in the province.
Important functions of the Legislature are now once again being hampered and an important budget and oversight committee meeting as well as a meeting of the Legislature’s whips are all seemingly affected by Seoe’s conviction.
In 2017, there were also times when the water and electricity supply to the building was cut off and the Legislature was unable to fulfil its administrative functions for days on end. The building is decrepit and yet the owner is not called to account.
The FF Plus is worried about the road ahead for the Free State Legislature seeing as there is nowhere else for the Legislature to go after the failed Ramkraal development under the leadership of Magashule.
With Seoe’s conviction, the future with regard to his properties became unsure and the Legislature is renting one.
The Free State Legislature simply cannot afford to have its important political, administrative and oversight functions be adversely affected due to fraudulent individuals with political ties.
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