The controversial Free State Estina Dairy Farm project case, where millions of state funds were allegedly looted by service providers with the aid of government officials, will finally go on trial in 2024. The Free State High Court Judge President Cagney Musi on Tuesday (29/8) postponed the long-standing matter from 5 August 2024 to 13 September 2024 for trial. 

Suspects, including former MEC for Agriculture Mosebenzi Zwane, former Departmental Head Peter Mbana Thabethe, Chief Financial Officer Seipati Dhlamini, Gupta associate Ugeshni Governder, Ronica Ragavan, and former general manager Takisi Masiteng, among others.

Former Free State MEC for Agriculture Mosebenzi Zwane and Ronica Ragavan, appeared in court among other accused. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

Zwane and a former employee of Gupta Company Sahara were arrested on Wednesday, 28 September 2022 after handing themselves to authorities. PHOTO: Lucky Nkuyane

They are charged with fraud, corruption, and money laundering.  Former mineral resources minister and Free State MEC for Agriculture, Mosebenzi Zwane, former HOD of Agriculture, Peter Mbana Thabethe, and former Chief Director Seipati Dhlamini, are among the accused.

The Estina matter was revived in 2022 after it was provisionally withdrawn back in 2018 due to a lack of evidence against suspects, including the Gupta associates. OFM News previously reported that the former business owner of the now-defunct Estina company, where millions of rands were allegedly stolen by government officials and service providers, is among the suspects charged in the case.

Peter Mbana Thabete and Seipati Dhlamini are suspects in the R280 million Estina case. Photo: Lucky Nkuyane

This criminal case was also featured in the latest instalment of the State Capture report handed over to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday night by the chair of the commission and Chief Justice, Raymond Zondo.

The Free State ActionSA chairperson, Patricia Kopane, said to OFM News that Estina is a serious crime committed against the state and its people. She said suspects used people to loan money from state coffers and they must now pay the price.

"As ActionSA we are so relieved that the matter is before the High Court because we still believe that politicians, officials, especially the Guptas have benefitted R300 million. So this is a serious crime, it involves fraud, money laundering, and you should remember more than 80 beneficiaries never benefitted'." 

Charges against the controversial Estina dairy company in the Free State have been withdrawn by the state. 

Estina was among the 16 indicted by the National Prosecution Authority Independent Directorate in connection with fraud, corruption, and money laundering.

Kamal Vasram was also indicted by the state because he allegedly has been part and parcel of the wrongdoing in the project. Over 80 local farmers in Vrede, in the Phumelele Local Municipality, were in limbo following the corruption in the project. Zwane hails from the Vrede area.

OFM News