Former Free State Premier Ace Magashule maintains that the R255 million asbestos case that he has been implicated in, is political.

Magashule was reacting to the High Court’s decision in the trial within a trial, that the extradition of his former personal assistant Moroadi Cholota from the US was unlawful.

Cholota had been dubbed as a “star witness” in the case.

Video | Magashule reacts to Cholota ruling:

Magashule and his co-accused in the matter have been charged with fraud, corruption and money laundering in the multi-million-rand asbestos roof removal tender saga.

Magashule, who will be back in court Wednesday, says he wants the court to acquit him as he has done nothing wrong.

“I’ve said this case is political and Cholota, and that’s why NPA has hidden the recordings. They recorded Cholota for two days. There is no way the tape recorder did not actually work. They knew what they were trying to say to Marupe Cholota. We still want that audio visual. And I wish we will actually get it. I will surprise the court with some of the audio visuals with time,” says Magashule.

Video | NPA to study Judge Loubser’s judgment which deemed Cholota’s extradition as unlawful:

Moreover, Magashule says he looks forward to the asbestos court case that is scheduled to continue in the Free State High Court.

Magashule maintains he does not just want a withdrawal, he says he wants to be acquitted as he has not done anything wrong.

“If I’m guilty of anything, of corruption, of maladministration, of whatever, of oversight and whatever they charge me with, the public knows me as a corrupt person. So, I will still want my day in court so that I take the stand and I expose what has not been exposed until today. My time will come and I’m sure I hope that NPA will continue with their case,” adds Magashule.

Video | Asbestos trial-within-trial continues in Bloemfontein High Court