The state has secured an ace in its case against ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule after his former personal assistant was revealed to have turned state witness.
Moroadi Cholota is a key witness in the case against Magashule as she is said to have been responsible for some transaction requests made on behalf of Magashule.
Magashule, through Cholota, is alleged to have made payment requests to Ignatius Mpambani, who was awarded the R255m Free State asbestos removal tender in a joint venture with businessman Edwin Sodi.
Cholota is said to have made at least four payment requests to Mpambani worth almost R800,000 after the joint venture was awarded the asbestos roof removal tender by the Free State human settlements department in 2014.
Mpambani was murdered in Johannesburg in 2017.
Cholota has now turned state witness and is said to currently be in the US.
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During Magashule's bail application held in the Bloemfontein magistrate's court on Friday, where he is facing counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering, the state and Magashule agreed one of the bail conditions was that Magashule is not allowed to have any contact with Cholota.
Although Magashule had sought to be released on R20,000 bail, the court ordered him released on R200,000 bail.
The state alleges that in August 2015, Magashule corruptly accepted gratification of R53,550, paid on his request towards the tuition fees of the daughter of a then acting judge from Mpambani.
It is further alleged that in June 2015, Magashule accepted payment of R470,000, paid on his request to M–TAG Systems for the acquisition of 200 electronic tablets from Mpambani.
Furthermore, the state alleges that in June 2015, Magashule accepted a payment of R30,000, paid on his request to a SWC Nkate from Mpambani.
The state alleges that between November 2015 and January 2016, a payment of R250,000, on his request, was made by Mpambani to Astra Travel towards the travel expenses of a delegation to Cuba.
Magashule's next court appearance is on February 19.
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