On Thursday, leading prosecutor Advocate Peter Serunye told the court they even had to cancel his flight and accommodation. Adv. Serunye revealed that this key witness, who is a former investigating officer in the case, has since retired and is somewhere in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. He said the witness in question is not available on his phone and even the local police, who have since offered help, failed to locate him.

The officer is one of two whose motives and conduct have been scrutinised by the defence attorneys, who put it to the court that the officers coerced and coached witnesses to testify in the favour of the state. The witness was also involved in the search and seizure operation of documents of the Department of Agriculture.

The trial has been postponed to Monday 6 February 2023. The state is expected to call two more witnesses.

Earlier a state witness, Kenosi Thubisi, from the Department’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) unit, told Judge Nompumelelo Gusha that he did not write his statement.

ALSO READ: Witness in Estina adjacent case accused of perjury

Three government officials – including Peter Mbana Thabethe, Seipati Dhlamini, and Dr Limakatso Moorosi – are accused of paying an upfront payment of R12 million to the so-called Gupta Lieutenant Iqbal Sharma's Nulane Investments company in 2011.

The trio stand accused of contravening the PFMA during the alleged irregular deviation from the normal tender process.

So far, nine witnesses, including former and current officials at the department in question, have taken to the stand to give an account of some of the things that took place during the alleged irregular payments of millions of rands to the so-called Gupta Lieutenant Iqbal Sharma’s Nulane Investment Company.

On Wednesday 1 February 2023, the current Head (HOD) of the Free State Agriculture Department, Jankie Takisi Masiteng, started testifying about the department's policies and documents.

Before Masiteng could take to the stand, the former HOD of Free State Treasury and current acting head of Free State Health, Godfrey Mahlatsi, also testified in court on Tuesday 31 January 2023.

Mahlatsi testified about the regulations and procedures a government department needs to adhere to or follow when carrying out programmes of activities or projects.

ALSO READ: Former Free State HOD testifies at Estina adjacent case

Suspects in the case include businessman and former transit board member Iqbal Sharma; former Free State HOD for Rural Development Peter Thabethe; former HOD Limakatso Moorosi; former Chief Financial Officer Seipati Dhlamini; Iqbal Sharma’s brother-in-law and a representative of Nulane Investments, Dinesh Patel; and Islandsite director Ronica Ragavan.

The trial continues and it is expected to be concluded on 3 March 2023.

OFM News