Cape Town — The former Personal Assistant (PA) of Ace Magashule, Moroadi Cholota, was extradited back to South Africa from the US on Thursday evening and will make her first appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.
Cholota arrived yesterday evening at OR Tambo Airport after she was considered a key witness in the case, but she was charged with fraud and corruption in the R255 million asbestos tender case after she had initially refused to cooperate. Cholota has been in the US for more than three years and had refused her extradition.
According to EWN, Cholota will be kept behind bars over the weekend and is due to make her first court appearance on Monday. Interpol South African spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, said the extradition would not be possible without cooperation from American authorities.
She said they received a “surrendering warrant”, which is given for a fugitive to be sent back to the country they are wanted in. She said a team was put together and deployed to the US where they handled the handing over process.
“We were given seven days and the national commissioner of the SAPS immediately assembled a team and deployed them to the USA. They were sent to the USA earlier this week where they met with USA Marshalls where the handing over took place,” Mathe said.
[WATCH] Former Free State premier Ace Magashule’s former personal assistant Moroadi Cholota has arrived in South Africa after being extradited from the US. Cholota is co-accused in the R255-million asbestos tender corruption case involving her former boss. Newzroom Afrika’s… pic.twitter.com/BYW5FzeTzh
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 8, 2024
According to TimesLIVE, Hawks spokesperson, Philani Nkwalase, said the extradition marked a real milestone for the Hawks, and confirmed that there are 18 suspects charged in the case. A trial is set for trial between 15 April and 23 June 2025.
Nkwalase added that the Hawks would take over custody of Cholota and ensure she makes her first court appearance on Monday. She was unsure if bail would be opposed.
“We are content she is here. Bail issues will be contemplated in court. We have not had any challenges with other suspects in this matter,” Nkwalase said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
