Cholota believes NPA targeting her over refusal to serve as State witness

BLOEMFONTEIN - Ace Magashule's former personal assistant believes the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is targeting her because she refused to serve as a State witness in a corruption case.

Moroadi Cholota appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Monday, facing fraud, corruption, and money laundering charges.

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The State claims to have strong evidence linking her to the irregular awarding and looting of the R255 million tender during Magashule's tenure as Free State Premier.

Cholota was charged with fraud, corruption, and money laundering after reversing her decision to testify against Magashule and his co-accused.

She revealed in court that police investigating the matter threatened to charge her if she refused to cooperate, claiming they’ve also got strong evidence implicating her in the botched tender.

In her written affidavit, presented in court by her attorney, Loyiso Makapela, Cholota believes the State is enraged by her decision not to serve as a State witness.

"The investigators threatened to charge me with the same charges as my co-accused if I did not cooperate with them. 

"There is no evidence to show that I never cooperated with the investigators. They felt that I had not provided them with the information that they were looking for."

The Bloemfontein Magistrates Court is expected to announce whether Cholota will be released on bail on Tuesday.