Moroadi Cholota arrived in South Africa after being extradited from the United States, escorted by Interpol and SAPS officers.
Story Summary
- Moroadi Cholota, former personal assistant to Ace Magashule, arrived in South Africa.
- Cholota was escorted by Interpol and SAPS officers during her extradition from the United States.
- She is implicated in the R255-million asbestos scandal and faces multiple charges, including fraud and corruption.
- Cholota is expected to be arrested and may appear in court on Monday.
Moroadi Cholota caught on camera after landing in South Africa
Cholota’s arrival at Oliver Tambo International Airport on Thursday evening was documented by sources on the ground, capturing the moment she disembarked from the plane under heavy police escort.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the authenticity of a photo circulating online that showed Cholota boarding a plane in the United States with two SAPS officers.
Cholota’s extradition comes amid her involvement in the high-profile R255 million asbestos scandal.
She faces five charges, including fraud and corruption, linked to her role in the misuse of funds allocated for asbestos auditing in impoverished neighbourhoods.
The scandal also implicates several other high-profile individuals, including businessman Edwin Sodi, former director-general of the national Department of Housing Thabane Zulu, and former Free State Premier Ace Magashule.
Upon her arrival, Cholota was escorted by Interpol and South African police officers.
It is anticipated that she will be formally arrested and charged, with a strong possibility of a court appearance on Monday, 13 August 2024.
However, the National Prosecuting Authority has not provided a definitive date for her court appearance.
Cholota’s role came under intense scrutiny during the State Capture Commission of Inquiry, where it was revealed that she facilitated funding requests from various businessmen for government projects, including travel arrangements for artists and students.
Her connections and actions have been pivotal in ongoing investigations into the asbestos scandal, which has been one of the most significant corruption cases in recent South African history.
