Kimberley Mental Health Hospital trial transferred to Northern Cape High Court

THE LONG-running trial involving the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital has been transferred to the Northern Cape High Court and is scheduled to be heard on April 23. 

The accused – the former MEC for Roads and Public Works, John Fikile Block, and former HODs for the Department of Roads and Public Works, Patience Mercia Mokhali, Motlalepula Elias Selemela and Ruth Palm – appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Their co-accused - the director of Babereki Consulting Engineers Closed Corporation, Tshegolekae Motaung Lourencia Crause; Louis Adriaan Van Niekerk; Monyahi Winston Modisa and Edward Charles Pullen Petzer, who were directors of Strabismis Trading (Pty) Ltd and Babereki Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd, also appeared. 

The State was given an ultimatum of serving the indictment on February 17 after the defence applied for the matter to be removed from the roll. 

The accused are facing charges including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Act 1 of 1999.

The charges relate to the construction of the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital, which commenced in 2005 with an initial budget of R297 million. The cost escalated to more than R1 billion due to delays, poor workmanship, irregular procurement processes, and repeated changes of contractors.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the financial prejudice in the matter increased significantly to over R88 million, resulting in additional corruption charges being brought against all accused.

"This prosecution forms part of broader investigations into allegations of public corruption and the mismanagement of state funds. The accused remain on bail following their court appearances. With the matter now transferred to the High Court, the prosecution and the investigation team are focusing on trial readiness and the next phase of the prosecution process." 

He said the NPA remained committed to ensuring accountability and upholding the rule of law in all matters involving public funds and service delivery.