South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has produced “overwhelming evidence” linking Moroadi Cholota to a “kickback scheme” that former Free State Premier Ace Magashule and others are accused of.
This is according to US attorney Erek Barron, who has supported the NPA’s request for Cholota’s extradition to South Africa to face corruption charges, News24 reported on Tuesday (30 April). Cholota was Magashule’s personal assistant and is currently in the US.
Magashule is facing corruption charges related to the controversial R255 million asbestos audit contract issued by the Free State government when he was the Premier.
The NPA has indicated that it will add Cholota as an accused in the case, whose pre-trial hearing is set for 14 June 2024. Magashule and more than a dozen others were first arrested in November 2020. He is out on R200,000 bail and has denied wrongdoing.
Cholota ‘knew about kickback scheme’
According to Barron, the NPA’s extradition request has shown that Cholota “knew about, and participated in, the illicit contract and kickback scheme” that Magashule and others are accused of.
Cholota allegedly had two bank accounts – one for her personal transactions and a second one that she did not disclose to authorities.
The secret account “received unknown cash deposits as well as transfers from service providers… ANC members, individuals with a close relationship with Magashule,” Barron reportedly said.
Cholota was arrested earlier in April in the US. Magashule defended her when he appeared in court this month. “A poor girl is just studying there. The state said she is a state witness and when she refused to be cornered into signing the statement, she was then charged. What an injustice,” he claimed.
The former Premier and ANC Secretary-General is now leader of a new party called African Transformation Congress (ACT) after he was expelled from the ANC last year. He claims his charges are politically motivated.