Moroadi Cholota, who is an accused in the failed R255 million asbestos case, failed to honour a commitment between her and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Cholota, the former PA of Ace Magashule, had allegedly struck a deal with DPP that she would turn herself over after a warrant of arrest was issued against her in 2021. She faces at least five charges, including fraud and corruption stemming from the R255 million failed 2014 project. 

Moroadi Cholota, the former PA of Ace Magashule. Picture: TimesLive

The Head of Free State DPP, Advocate Navilla Somaru, said Cholota failed to honour the agreement entered into by both parties that she should turn herself over. Cholata is studying in America. Somaru said her failure to turn herself over then led to the state applying for extradition to stand trial as accused. She spoke on the sideline of a media briefing meant to address the R5.1 million which was meant to be transferred back to the Lesotho National Treasury.

The Head of Free State DPP, Advocate Navilla Somaru. Picture: Lucky Nkuyane 

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

In October 2023  Somaru said: “All the requested documents have been submitted and the outcome of the process in the USA is awaited.”

In 2021, state prosecutor Adv. Johan de Nysschen told Judge President Cagney Musi that Cholota, who was previously deemed as a state witness, was not cooperating with state detectives. De Nysschen said Cholota left them without a choice.

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

It's understood that in December 2022, Cholota's student visa expired and she was arrested at the end of January 2023 but was let go and clarity over her arrest is yet to be provided.

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's 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   daphné/corne