Former Free State Premier Ace Magashule’s former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota, is expected to become the subject of an extradition process, following her arrest by the authorities in the US.
News24 reports that Cholota, who has been studying in the United States, is expected to appear in a US court, as a preliminary step to extradition proceedings against her.
According to EWN reports, Cholota was meant to be a key witness for the State in its case against Magashule and 17 others over a R255-million asbestos tender scheme.
However, she backtracked on her agreement to testify against the former premier.
According to News24, Cholota is seen as a pivotal witness for the State, which is attempting to prove that Magashule was a willing participant in a corrupt R255-million asbestos tender scheme.
The scheme allegedly saw multiple high-ranking Free State government officials receive kickbacks from money meant to fund the removal of harmful asbestos from the homes of the province’s poorest residents.
However, instead of the affected houses being safely rid of asbestos at a reasonable price, the State says, businessman Edwin Sodi and his 15 co-accused embarked on a ‘rent-seeking’ scheme that ultimately resulted in only R21 million being paid for work that was meant to be done.
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