Cholota free: Court rules US extradition was unlawful

By Johnathan Paoli

In a dramatic turn in the long-running R255 million Free State asbestos tender corruption case, Judge Philip Loubser of the Free State High Court has ruled that the extradition of Moroadi Cholota from the United States was unlawful, barring the court from trying her on any charges.

Delivering his judgment on Tuesday, Judge Loubser was unequivocal.

“What appears pertinently clear is that it is undeniable that the state presented false and incorrect information to United States authorities. Two South African courts have already made this finding and the US authorities relied on this information in good faith and actioned the extradition on an unknowingly unlawful basis,” he ruled.

The judgment effectively removes the former personal assistant to ex-Free State Premier Ace Magashule from the dock, concluding a contentious trial-within-a-trial over her extradition.

Cholota, who had faced charges of corruption linked to the 2014 asbestos contract awarded to