Former Free State Premier Ace Magashule remains untroubled by the arrest and extradition of his former personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota.
Cholota has been extradited back to South Africa following authorization by the United States government on July 31 and is set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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She faces charges including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and violating the Public Finance Management Act.
Magashule has openly stated he maintains innocence in relation to the allegations. He asserted, “I know I’ve not done anything. I know the young lady has not done anything.”
According to Magashule, Cholota was coerced into implicating him. He added that there were records of attempts to force her to turn state witness against him.
Expressing concerns about the treatment of Cholota, Magashule noted, “The way she’s treated, she’s treated like a terrorist, escorted by hundreds of policemen and women. That’s real torture.”
He emphasized the need for humane treatment for Cholota, suspecting that she might have been tortured during her extradition.
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Both Magashule and his 17 co-accused, including businessman Edwin Sodi, are embroiled in legal battles involving over 70 counts of fraud, corruption, and money laundering, linked to a dubious asbestos tender awarded by the Free State Department of Human Settlements.
Despite attempts to challenge the prosecution, the High Court dismissed their matter in May 2022, as did the Supreme Court of Appeal in May 2023, ruling that their appeal had no reasonable prospects of success.
