Mapaballo Borotho

The High Court in Bloemfontein has ruled that, the former Freestate premier Ace Magashule’s personal assistant Moroadi Cholota’s extradition from the United States was unlawful.
This comes after Cholota challenged her arrest, citing that the state lied to the United States authorities, claiming there was reasonable cause for the charges brought against her.
In a trial within trial on Tuesday, Judge Phillip Loubser said the Prosecution has not proven beyond reasonable doubt that there was a valid and lawful request from South Africa for the extradition of Cholota from the USA.
The judge told Cholota that she is free to go.
“The extradition itself was without any basis and therefore unlawful. The extradition of Miss Cholota from the United States to the Republic of South Africa is declared to have been done unlawfully. This court does not have the jurisdiction to try Miss Cholota on the offenses she’s charged with,” Judge Loubser said.
Asbestos Judgment (trial within a trial) Free State High Court https://t.co/8gk1V0bsAs
— NPASouthAfrica (@NPA_Prosecutes) June 3, 2025
Cholota was accused number 17 in the R255 million asbestos corruption case, involving Magashule and controversial businessman Edwin Sodi.
She was extradited from the United States in August 2024 for allegedly refusing to cooperate with law enforcement officials.
The co-accused in the main trial are set to return to court on the 23rd of June 2025.
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