This was confirmed by state prosecutor Johan de Nysschen. De Nysschen told Judge President, Cagney Musi, that Moroadi Selina Cholota, who was deemed as the state witness in the failed R255 million, was not cooperating with state detectives. De Nysschen says Cholota left them without a choice and she is now a suspect soon to be an accused in the matter. Cholota is said to be studying in the United States presently.

De Nyscchen said if Cholota does not get to the Republic of South Africa before the trial starts, the trial will unfortunately commence without her. He says when push came to shove, Cholota refused to cooperate.

OFM News previously reported that, as outlined in Pieter Louis Myburgh’s Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule's Web of Capture, Cholota made several requests for money transactions to Mpambani.

The accused in this case includes Limpopo businessman, Edwin Sodi; former Mangaung Metro Mayor, Olly Mlamleli; the former head of the Free State Department of Human Settlements, Nthimotse Mokhesi; the Director for Supply Chain Management at Human Settlements, Mahlomola John Matlakala; a businessman residing in Johannesburg, Sello Joseph Radebe; a Pretoria businessman, Abel Kgotso Manyeki; the former Director-General for the National Department of Human Settlements, Thabane Wiseman Zulu; and Albertus Venter, who occupied a role in the Free State Premier’s office.

It’s alleged Sodi irregularly awarded the housing audit tender via his joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading, owned by murdered Welkom businessman, Igo Mpambani, by the Free State Human Settlements Department in 2014. Not only was the tender irregular but it is reported that kickbacks were given to some of the accused. The implicated group is facing more than 70 counts of fraud, theft, attempted theft, corruption, and money laundering. Following their arrests, the suspects were released on bail of R50 000 to R500 000.

OFM News