Former executive mayor for Mangaung, Pappie Mokoena, his wife Granny, and 17 other accused pleaded not guilty in the High Court in Bloemfontein on Wednesday to charges of racketeering, fraud and corruption.
The long-awaited trial of Mokoena and his co-accused started after a two-day delay to seek further particulars from the state to charges the former mayor specifically faced.
On Wednesday, the court refused a second attempt by Mokoena for further particulars, after hearing argument that he was not happy with the state's first effort.
Mokoena and his 18 co-accused face a total of 259 charges, including theft, and money laundering involving an estimated R130-million.
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Not all the accused face all the charges.
The case follows an investigation by the Scorpions into the Mangaung Local Municipality.
The accused include former municipal manager Mojalefa Matlole, former municipal speaker Zongezile Zumane, former business manager Mzwandile Silwana, and Jakes Thithi, a political adviser to the former mayor.
The other accused are Silwana's wife Brigitte, Evodia Kok (Zumane's personal assistant), Laetitia Hoffman (Mokoena's personal assistant), Buyelwa Khethelo, a businesswoman from Rocklands, and two Heidedal businessmen, Keabecoe and Kegomodicoe Lekone.
Judge A Kruger listened for most of Wednesday morning to Mokoena's defence lawyer Johan Nel, arguing why he was not happy with the state's answers to a first request for further particulars.
The trial was expected to start on Monday, but was postponed to Wednesday after a request by Mokoena for further particulars from the prosecution was allowed.
Nel submitted that the papers filed currently did not "enlighten" Mokoena enough as to what he faced in the trial.
"The accused should be informed fully of the charges he faces," said Nel.
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