Duduzile Patricia “Moroadi” Cholota, former personal assistant to ex-Free State premier Ace Magashule, has suffered another legal setback in the R255-million Free State asbestos corruption case.
The Free State High Court dismissed her application to reserve “questions of law” for appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), effectively clearing the way for her criminal trial to proceed.
Cholota, once considered a potential state witness, is now charged alongside Magashule, businessman Edwin Sodi, and several others.
She was extradited from the United States and has argued the case against her is retaliatory.
Her latest bid focused on claims that the National Prosecuting Authority misled US authorities during her extradition.
However, the court ruled her arguments were based on factual disputes, not legal questions.
The scandal involves a tender where millions were paid for asbestos removal work that was largely not completed, with allegations of bribes to officials. Prosecutors say Cholota personally requested kickbacks.
With multiple legal challenges now dismissed, the long-delayed trial is expected to move forward, though Cholota may still petition the SCA directly.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
