Johannesburg – Multi-million rand fraud accused Moroadi Cholota – the former personal assistant of Ace Magashule when he was Free State premier is expected to appear in court in Bloemfontein on Monday, (11 August 2024).
She was arrested in the U.S. by the FBI several months ago before she was eventually extradited to South Africa.
When Cholota was brought back to South Africa last week, on Thursday, Hawks Spokesperson Philani Nkwalase said the 37-year-old was “extradited’ from the U.S. with the help of Interpol and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Speaking at OR Tambo International Airport, Nkwalase said Cholota will appear in court on Monday on charges of fraud, money laundering, and corruption.
Cholota, a former state witness, is now implicated in a multi-million asbestos fraud case along with 18 others including her former boss, Magashule, who denies the charges has been out on R200 000 bail since November 2020.
The charges stem from the alleged irregular awarding of a R255 million contract to identify and remove asbestos roofs in low-cost housing in the Free State.
Meanwhile, the African Congress for Transformation (ACT) party, led by Magashule said it, “believes that this long dragging case will finally be laid to rest and Ms. Cholota will have the opportunity to present her side to the entire South African population, similar to her testimony she delivered at the Zondo Commission”.
In a statement on Friday, (9 August 2024), ACT said: “The Party’s President-General welcomes the arrival of Ms. Cholota and expresses confidence in her ability to present the truth as she knows it.
“Nevertheless, the party strongly condemns the Hollywood-esque extradition of Ms. Cholota, during which she was surrounded by heavily armed Interpol Officers, SA Police Service Officers, and the NPA, as if they were escorting a terrorist.
“Ms. Cholota does not pose any threat to anyone and did not merit the mistreatment she received.
“The police’s grandiose arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport was only a theatrical display intended to scare an innocent woman who happens to be a mother.”
Cholota was studying in the U.S. when she was arrested and brought back to South Africa, where she was placed in custody on arrival.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said Interpol had been working on extraditing Cholota since 2001.
