Magashule’s former PA set to appear in court after US extradition

Moroadi Cholota, the former personal secretary of ex-premier Ace Magashule, is set to appear in court on Monday, following her dramatic return from the US last week.

Cholota, who had been studying in the US, was extradited to South Africa to face charges related to the alleged irregular awarding of a R255 million contract in October 2014.

The tender was meant to remove asbestos roofs from houses in the province.

Magashule and several others are also accused in the case, with some already out on bail.

But it’s not clear whether the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in the Free State will grant her bail.

Former PA to Ace Magashule makes first appearance in court Monday

Legal analyst Inez Bezuidenhout explains, “The court takes into account the grounds as set out in Section 60 sub-sections 4 A to E of the Criminal Procedure Act which includes aspects such as the likelihood that the applicant if released on bail will evade trial. Or that she will intimidate or interfere with state witnesses or even the safety of herself in this instant can also be a consideration that the court would take into account. Now those grounds if any of those are established one cannot say it would be in the interest of justice however it will depend on the arguments presented to the court to establish if any or all of those grounds might have been met.”

VIDEO: Thomas Sibuyi weighs in on Magashule’s former PA’s court case:

Road closure

Meanwhile, the Mangaung Metro says roads around the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s court precinct will be closed on Monday. The streets that will be closed are President Brand and Peet Avenue.

Metro spokesperson Qondile Khedama says the city’s law enforcement and traffic will execute a road closure plan to ensure there’s ease of traffic around the court to allow residents and motorists to continue with their daily activities without being inconvenienced.

The public is requested to use alternative routes for the duration of the closure.