After spending more than four months in jail, Moroadi Cholota, former personal assistant to Free State ex-Premier Ace Magashule, regained her freedom as she was granted bail by the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Cholota is accused in a R255m corruption case. This was her third appearance at the court, and she was granted R2,500 bail despite opposition from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), who argued that she was a “flight risk”.
During her bail hearing, Magistrate Estelle de Lange ordered Cholota to be released immediately after paying bail, stating that the state had not proven she was a flight risk.
“The state argued that they regarded the applicant [Cholota] as a flight risk. The applicant is facing charges which are obviously of a serious nature. It relates to elements of dishonesty but does not relate to elements of violence,” De Lange said.
The magistrate emphasized that there must be evidence-based likelihood that the accused will not stand trial, which was not substantiated.
Cholota was granted bail under several conditions, including not being allowed to travel outside Bloemfontein without the consent of the investigating officer. She must report to the police station every Monday and Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.
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These stringent conditions aim to ensure her presence at future court dates, with her next appearance scheduled for Friday to set a high court trial date.
On Tuesday, the state presented what it described as “overwhelming” evidence that Cholota was not merely an accessory to alleged fraud but an accomplice.
NPA lead prosecutor Johan De Nysschen read in court the affidavit of the investigating officer, Benjamin Calitz, arguing that the government lost R86m due to fraud. He mentioned that the state had a paper trail to prove its allegations against Cholota. Calitz also pointed out that Cholota’s charges were prompted by her perceived “lack of co-operation” during the state capture inquiry led by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Magistrate de Lange acknowledged that the corruption trial—implicating Magashule, Cholota, and 15 Free State government officials linked to a corrupt scheme over a tender—would be lengthy. Granting bail was seen as a measure to prevent Cholota’s life from coming to a standstill. The trial dates are expected to be drawn out over several months or even years, reflecting the complexity and gravity of the case.
