Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Roy Jankielsohn MPL
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is closely following Moroadi Cholota’s recent application to the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein, seeking to have her arrest declared unlawful and unconstitutional. This legal move is a significant development in the ongoing asbestos corruption case, where Cholota is set to face trial alongside former Free State Premier Ace Magashule and fifteen others on 74 charges, including fraud, corruption, money laundering, and racketeering.
The trial, scheduled to begin on April 15, 2025, and conclude by mid-June 2025, marks a crucial milestone in a decade-long battle for justice led by the DA. Our efforts to expose and challenge the asbestos contract’s irregularities began in 2015, and despite initial setbacks, we have relentlessly pursued accountability through various legal avenues.
Cholota, as the former personal assistant to Ace Magashule, is believed to have been a key intermediary in the corrupt dealings involving the asbestos project. The DA firmly believes that Cholota holds critical information that could be pivotal in unraveling the full extent of the alleged corruption surrounding the asbestos project.
We trust the judicial system to carefully review and address Cholota’s claims, ensuring that due process is followed while maintaining the integrity of the investigation and prosecution. The DA remains committed to seeing this case through to its conclusion and achieving justice for the victims of this fraudulent scheme, which was designed to divert R255 million from public funds under the guise of replacing hazardous asbestos roofs affecting approximately 32,000 families.
As we await the court’s decision on Cholota’s application, the DA will continue to support the legal process and advocate for transparency and accountability. We are hopeful that the trial will proceed without further delays and that all those implicated will be held to account.