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The asbestos roof removal trial-within-a-trial at the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein on May 7, 2025.
The trial-within-a-trial in the R255 million asbestos roofing case has been postponed to Monday for closing arguments. Taking place at the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein, the state and the defence have concluded cross-examining two witnesses.
The National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) maintains that they have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the court has jurisdiction to try accused 17, Moroadi Cholota, who is an Assistant to the former Free State Premier, Ace Magashule.
Cholota is challenging her extradition process from the United States of America.
“We take the view that the evidence of the two witnesses is sufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt that this court has jurisdiction to try Moroadi Cholota,” says NPA Spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.
Adv Teneille Govender for Ace Magashule says that the investigators were already knowledgeable that Moroadi Cholota who is a former PA of then FS premier Magashule will be regarded as a suspect based on their evidence. # sabcnews pic.twitter.com/7yh9bsdzWb
— Aphumelele Mdlalane (@AphumeleleMdla2) May 22, 2025
Adv Teneille Govender for Ace Magashule says the investigators were already knowledgeable that Cholota would be regarded as a suspect based on their evidence.
Govender has submitted in court that the investigators who interviewed Cholota in the USA were deliberate in involving the FBI.
The investigating officer has indicated that the FBI were roped in to locate Cholota because they did not have jurisdiction to do so.
Magashule is the only accused who is part of the trial within a trial case, apart from Cholota. This is because his name appeared during the two day interview conducted with Cholota in November 2020.
