The African Congress for Transformation (ACT) has welcomed the acquittal of Moroadi Cholota — former personal assistant to Ace Magashule — and lambasted the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for what it calls “politically motivated” delays in the ongoing asbestos corruption case.
Reverend Mohau Khumalo, the ACT’s head of media and communications, hailed Cholota’s acquittal as a vindication, stating on Wednesday night: “Her vindication confirms what we have always maintained: the so-called asbestos case has nothing to do with justice or corruption and everything to do with a blatant political witch-hunt.”
Cholota, a key figure and witness in the high-profile trial of Magashule, was acquitted on Tuesday after years of legal wrangling.
Motives behind postponement questioned
On Wednesday, the Bloemfontein High Court postponed the trial to January 2026 at the request of the NPA, which has been under increasing scrutiny.
Reacting to this development, the ACT expressed outrage at the new delay, questioning the motives behind the postponement.
“The decision by the National Prosecuting Authority to postpone the trial to January 26, 2026 — despite claiming for months that it was ‘ready to proceed’ — is not only suspicious but utterly insulting to the intelligence of South Africans.
“If the NPA is ready, why is there a need for yet another delay spanning over seven months?” asked Khumalo.
According to the statement, the ACT believes the NPA has “no credible case, no credible witnesses, and no credible evidence against Ace Magashule”.
Khumalo continued: “Instead, what we are witnessing is the abuse of state institutions to destroy political opponents.
“The continuous attempts to coerce Cholota into falsely implicating Magashule demonstrate just how far the state was willing to go to fabricate a narrative for political ends.”
State accused of using lawfare
The organisation accuses the state of employing “lawfare” as a tactic to settle political disputes and suppress opposition.
“This case is a tragic example of how lawfare is used as a tool to settle political scores and manipulate the political landscape.
“It is a mockery of the principles of democracy, fairness, and justice,” Khumalo stated.
The party laid out three specific demands: that the NPA either proceed immediately with its so-called ‘ready’ case or withdraw the charges completely; that an independent inquiry be launched into the politicisation of the NPA and its handling of high-profile cases; and that Magashule be allowed to reclaim his place in society and politics without the burden of false allegations hanging over his head.
Khumalo called on civil society to unite against what he described as “a judicial system used for factional vendettas”.
He added: “We call on all progressive forces, civil society organisations, and ordinary citizens to reject this culture of selective prosecution and to stand in solidarity with all those targeted for refusing to sell out their principles.
“The time for political trials is over. The time for transformation and true justice is now.”
