The Bloemfontein High Court is expected to deliver a crucial judgment in the case of Moroadi Cholota, a key figure in the ongoing Free State asbestos corruption scandal. Cholota, 37, has requested the court to declare the fraud and corruption charges against her unconstitutional and invalid. The judgment, which was reserved on November 7, 2024, is scheduled for delivery at 9:30 AM on Thursday morning.
Cholota, the former personal assistant to Ace Magashule, is facing multiple charges related to the controversial R255 million asbestos project in the Free State. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has argued that the State’s case against her is weak. In addition to the charges, Cholota is challenging the legality of her extradition from the United States, where she had been residing. She was brought back to South Africa in August 2024, and now seeks to have her extradition declared unlawful.
Out on R2,500 bail, Cholota is one of 19 individuals charged in connection with the alleged fraud and corruption. Among the co-accused are her former boss, Ace Magashule, and businessman Edwin Sodi. Cholota is the 17th accused named in the 110-page State indictment. The charges stem from her role as a personal assistant to Magashule, where she is alleged to have been responsible for handling correspondence and assisting with scheduling meetings and travel arrangements on his behalf.
The scandal revolves around a project announced by Magashule during his State of the Province Address on June 26, 2014, aimed at replacing dangerous asbestos roofing in the Free State. Despite promises that the project would span from 2014 to 2019, none of the planned work was ever completed, leaving over 300,000 houses untouched.
The pre-trial hearings have already taken place, with the main trial set to begin in April 2025. As the court prepares to deliver its judgment on Cholota’s application, all eyes are on the outcome, which could have significant implications for the case moving forward. The outcome of this judgment could also set a critical precedent for how corruption and fraud cases are handled in South Africa’s legal system, particularly those involving high-profile figures and complex, multi-million rand projects.
