This is according to former Free State Treasury official, Anna Sussana Fourie. Fourie testified before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry on Monday as it continues with investigations into the Vrede Dairy farm project. She confirmed that before her retirement in June 2018 she was exposed to the financial administration in the province, except for budget and supply chain management. She told the commission that there were a number of issues she experienced in her job as a Deputy Director-General, including irregular expenditure and transfer payments, but unaccountability and non-reporting of assets worth millions were of great concern.

She further confirmed that it was odd of the FDC to be appointed as both an implementing agent and a service provider for this project after the contract with Estina was terminated.

The commission also heard from her how the Provincial Agriculture Department was under pressure to make a R30 million advance payment to Estina in 2012 without following proper procedure.

She said the documents indicated that Estina and the department’s agreement was about seven days old when they were requested to pay R30 million and that she requested Seipati Dhlamini, the CFO of the Agriculture Department, to furnish her with written reasons why they had to transfer such large amounts. She told the commission that Dhlamini, however, refused and insisted that the money be transferred.

Fourie said there was less than R6 million in the Provincial Revenue Fund and it was not possible for the Provincial Treasury to make that payment to Estina.

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