The nation remembers August 8, 2024, when Johannesburg’s harsh, artificial lights blinded Moroadi Cholota after the gloom of the FBI escort flight from the US. Â
Before she could catch her breath, a phalanx of Hawks officers surrounded her – not to shield her but to present her. Cameras surged forward, lenses like predatory eyes, flashing relentlessly. Her dark skin, her youth, her terrified eyes – all weaponised by her own government. No dignity, no presumption of innocence – just a spectacle. Â
The democratic government’s chosen scapegoat, displayed not for justice but for show. Her humanity was erased. Â
She wasn’t a person returning home; she was collateral in a political game, her shame their victory lap. Â
The court’s dismissal this week of charges against her is a victory for justice. She must be commended for fighting a good fightÂ
