Former Ace Magashule's personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota (37), made her first appearance in the High Court in Bloemfontein today where she is facing charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption pertaining to the R255 million Free State Asbestos roofing contract. The matter was set for a pre-trial conference today but was postponed to give Cholota time to study the contents of her docket.
GIVE ME TIME
Free State NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said that Cholota instructed her defence to inform the court that she needed additional time. "They indicated they needed time to study the contents of the docket before the pre-trial conference and the trial.The defence had initially requested that the matter be adjourned to November 2024.
STATE CASE WEAK
In her bail affidavit, Cholota denied the charges levelled against her, claiming that the state's case was weak. She was extradited from the United States of America in early August where she had been living. She was released on R2500 bail a week later. Following her successful bail application, Cholota launched an urgent application against the National Prosecuting Authority to have her charges dismissed. Cholota also wanted the court to declare her extradition from the United States unlawful.
