South African Officials Accused of Serious Corruption Battle Against Extradition from United States and United Kingdom
A former personal assistant to a high-ranking government official and electricity executive is wanted for allegedly stealing millions of dollars in South Africa.
The individuals involved in the largest fraud in African history are facing extradition from the United States and United Kingdom where they have been hiding.
Nomalanga Moroadi Selina Cholota, a member of South Africa’s major governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), is facing charges related to tender corruption estimated at R255 million ($14.2 million) in Free State province in 2014.
Cholota, who was a personal assistant to the former ANC second-in-command Ace Magashule, left South Africa in late 2021 to study at Bay Atlantic University (BAU) in Washington.
Michael Lomas, a dual British-South African citizen, is wanted in South Africa for charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering amounting to R1.4 billion ($78 million) at Eskom between 2014 and 2017.
The two individuals are allegedly linked to former South African president Jacob Zuma’s “State Capture” scheme.
In 2022, a commission of inquiry found evidence of widespread corruption during Zuma’s presidency, amounting to almost $30 billion.
The ANC has faced repercussions for the corruption, leading to its worst-ever election result and forming a coalition government.
Efforts are being made to bring those involved in the corruption to justice, including extradition requests for Cholota and Lomas.
The case has significant implications for South Africa’s democracy and efforts to combat corruption.
