WATCH | Hawks, Interpol await arrival of Magashule's former PA at OR Tambo

JOHANNESBURG - Hawks officers and Interpol officials are on Thursday evening at OR Tambo International Airport waiting for the arrival of the former personal assistant of erstwhile Free State premier - Ace Magashule.

Moroadi Cholota will be arrested after being extradited from the United States of America (USA) - where she has been studying. 

The 37-year-old is due to be charged with charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act. 

The charges relate to an ongoing trial where Magashule and 17 others stand accused of improperly benefiting from a R255 million contract to identify and eradicate asbestos roofs on low-cost houses in the Free State.

ALSO READ: Ace Magashule's former PA Moroadi Cholota extradited to South Africa

Thursday brings an end to a lengthy process by the country’s law enforcement agencies to extradite Cholota.

She was initially due to be a State witness. However, she backtracked on that deal and is now due to be charged alongside Magashule.

The Hawks’ spokesperson - Philani Mkwalase - says this represents an important milestone in this case. 

“So, it’s been a long road, but we are where we are and we believe we are getting closer to finalising the process and we are certainly confident we have a strong case against all suspects that we have. And you would know no country would agree to this process if they also did not believe we have a valid and strong case against the suspects.”

Cholota will spend the weekend behind bars and is due to make her first court appearance on Monday.