A trial in the corruption case involving the failed R280 million Estina diary project has been set for August to September 2024 at the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein. The trial will take place between 05 August and 13 September 2024.
The accused are charged with contravening the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption and money laundering. The 16 accused appeared in court on Tuesday on charges emanating from alleged looting of the Free State Department of Agriculture, through a company called Estina , which is linked to Gupta associates. Investigating directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said that the accused included former Agriculture MEC in the Free State Mosebenzi Zwane. "It's alleged that Estina received R280 million from July 2012 to April 2014. Investigations also revealed that no proper tender procedures were followed with regard to the decision to fund the proposed Vrede Dairy Project. Estina did not honour its obligations in terms of the agreement, as only the department paid its contribution into the bank accounts held by the company," she said.
Zwane is regarded as the brains behind the looting of the Vrede Dairy Project. He is regarded as the staunch supporter of former president Jacob Zuma and he was accused of bankrolling the wedding of the controversial Gupta family from India. In May 2014, Zwane served as a member of the Free State provincial legislature. He had previously served as MEC in the portfolio of Agriculture and Rural Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs in his home province. Later he was officially sworn in as the Minister of Mineral Resources under Zuma, succeeding Ngoako Ramathlodi.
STEPPING ASIDE
Zwane handed himself over to the police in September last year after a warrant of his arrest was issued. He and his co-accused were released on R10 000 bail by the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court. The other accused in the matter is the former head of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Peter Thabethe; former chief financial officer of the department, Seipati Dhlamini; former acting head of the Department, Takisi Masiteng; and Estina dairy farm director Kamal Vasram. The Vrede Dairy Project was established in 2012 on Krynaauslust Farm near Vrede in the Free State with the aim of empowering black farmers. Bank statements show that no payments were made to black beneficiaries even after Estina was given R250 million for the project. It was also discovered that the dairy farm was just a shell through which money was sent to the Guptas in India. Estina was given the land under a free 99 year lease. The project was later handed over to 65 black farmers with oversight from a trust and executive team.
