The Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court has granted bail to Moroadi Cholota, the former personal assistant to Ace Magashule, in connection with the ongoing Free State asbestos corruption case.
Story Summary:
- Moroadi Cholota was granted bail of R2,500 after the court found insufficient evidence to support the claim that she was a flight risk.
- Cholota is restricted from leaving Bloemfontein without the consent of the investigating officer and must report to the Park Road Police Station twice a week.
- Cholota faces five charges related to fraud and corruption in the Free State asbestos project, a case that has implicated several high-profile figures.
Moroadi Cholota granted bail: She must adhere to these conditions
The Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court granted Moroadi Cholota bail on Thursday, setting the amount at R2,500.
The decision came after the court determined that there was insufficient evidence to label her a flight risk, despite the State’s arguments to the contrary.
Magistrate Estelle de Lange, who presided over the bail hearing, noted that the State’s affidavit lacked the necessary evidence to justify keeping Cholota in custody until the resolution of the asbestos case.
In addition to the bail amount, strict conditions were imposed on Cholota.
She is required to report to Park Road Police Station every Monday and Friday and is not allowed to leave Bloemfontein without prior consent from the investigating officer.
The court considered her lack of financial means and unemployment status when determining the bail amount.
Cholota, who previously served as Ace Magashule’s personal assistant during his tenure as Free State Premier, has been implicated in the misuse of funds allocated for asbestos auditing in impoverished neighbourhoods.
Her role in managing funding requests for public projects brought her into the spotlight during the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, where her involvement in facilitating funds from businessmen for government projects was scrutinised.
Cholota was arrested in the United States earlier this year and was extradited to South Africa to face charges, which include fraud and corruption.
The asbestos corruption scandal has also implicated several other high-profile individuals, including businessman Edwin Sodi and former director-general of the National Department of Housing, Thabane Zulu.
The investigation into the Free State asbestos project remains ongoing, with Cholota’s next court appearance expected to provide further developments in the case.
