The Free State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is awaiting a response from the United States government regarding the extradition of former Ace Magashule’s Personal Assistant accused in the multimillion-rand asbestos case.

The DPP provincial Advocate Navilla Somaru said all the requested documents have been submitted and the outcome of the process in the USA is awaited. Moroadi Cholota faces at least five charges, including fraud and corruption stemming from the R255 million failed 2014 project.

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

Pieter Louis Myburgh’s Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule's Web of Capture.

It's understood that in December 2022, Cholota's student visa expired and she was arrested at the end of January 2023. It's believed that she is still in custody and it's not yet known when or if she has appeared in court to face charges of contravening the Immigration Act.

In November 2021, state prosecutor Adv. Johan de Nysschen confirmed a warrant of arrest for Cholota was issued.

Choloto was initially deemed to be a state witness but later turned into a suspect when she failed to cooperate with state detectives. De Nysschen said Cholota left them without a choice and she is now a suspect, soon to be an accused, in the matter. She is said to be studying in the United States.

In February 2022, the NPA national spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, also said paperwork – to ensure Cholota is extradited to stand trial for her alleged role in the failed R255 million asbestos project – had commenced.

In a twist of events last year, audio of Cholota and two Hawks investigators surfaced and caused a stir, with her claiming she was being bullied by the investigators.

Cholota wanted, what she terms as "unconstitutional charges" against her – for her alleged role in the failed R255 million asbestos project – to be dropped.

Ace Magashule during a court appearance in Bloemfontein earlier. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

Meanwhile, the accused in this case include 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 alleged Sodi was 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/Lucky Nkuyane