The bail hearing against Ace Magashule’s former PA has been postponed to Tuesday (13/8).

Moroadi Cholota, who faces charges including fraud, corruption, and money laundering related to the alleged misappropriation of R255 million in state funds linked to asbestos roofing, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court this morning.

Magistrate Estelle de Lange decided to adjourn the matter to allow for further consideration of the bail application after the state prosecutor, Adv. Johan De Nysschen requested additional time. Cholota’s bail application was only submitted by her defence lawyers to the state this morning.

‘State plans to contest the bail application’

De Nysschen indicated the state plans to contest the bail application. During the court proceedings, Adv. Loyiso Makapela, representing Cholota, read out her client’s bail application.

In the affidavit, Cholota asserts that she is not a flight risk, noting that her passport remains in the USA after her extradition on an emergency passport. Cholota also pledged to plead not guilty to all charges against her.

Moroadi Cholota with one of her attorneys from Morakile Tibane Attorneys in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi 

“My client is determined to prove her innocence and rectify the damage to her reputation. She maintains that she should not have been implicated in this case and intends to demonstrate the unconstitutional handling of her case by the state,” said Makapela.

Makapela argued it’s unconstitutional to detain her client, who has been in custody since her arrest in the USA on 12 April. Cholota was moved to a prison in New Jersey on 1 August and subsequently to Pretoria before being held in Bainsvlei cells until today’s court appearance.

In her affidavit, she contended that her co-accused have not faced similar detention and urged the court to consider the principles of human dignity and equality as enshrined in Section 9 of the South African Constitution.

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

The state alleged Limpopo businessman Edwin Sodi was irregularly awarded the housing audit tender by the Free State Department of Human Settlements in 2014 via his joint venture with Diamond Hill Trading, owned by slain Welkom businessman Igo Mpambani. The tender was irregular, and kickbacks were reportedly given to some of the accused.

The accused include former Mangaung Mayor Olly Mlamleli, former Free State Department of Human Settlements head Nthimotse Mokhesi, Department of Human Settlements supply chain management director Mahlomola John Matlakala, Johannesburg businessman, Sello Joseph Radebe, Pretoria businessman, Abel Kgotso Manyeki, former national Department of Human Settlements director-general Thabane Wiseman Zulu, and Albertus Venter, who occupied a role in the Free State Premier’s office.

The implicated group faces more than 70 counts of fraud, theft, attempted theft, corruption, and money laundering. The accused were released on bail between R50,000 and R500,000. Meanwhile, the trial date has been set for 15 April to 23 June 2025.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg