This, after Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo adjourned the commission for today after being requested to postpone the hearing that was set to take place this morning to 20 and 21 September. Zondo has granted the postponement on grounds that the witness will need to testify for two days. He, nonetheless, announced that the commission will resume on Thursday as planned with Thabethe on the stand. The former HOD was amongst the eight Gupta associates who faced criminal charges for the controversial Estina project last year before it was provisionally withdrawn in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court.

Thabethe was amongst those accused of benefiting from the R220 million that was earmarked to assist the more than 80 farmers in Vrede but was looted from the Free State after the provincial Agriculture Department deposited money into Estina’s Nedbank account, which was thereafter moved to the Bank of Baroda pool account. Thabethe’s testimony is expected to take place over a two-day period.

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