The evidence leader at the commission, Adv. Leah Gcabashe, quizzed Thabethe on what influenced the decision to appoint an Indian Dairy Milk Company, Paras, despite not being the largest milk producer in India and the world.

Gcabashe said she was concerned with the research given, namely that countries such as New Zealand, France, and the United States were amongst the biggest milk producers in the world with returns of billions in US dollars but still Paras were chosen. Allegations stand that the notorious Gupta family who had links with the Estina Dairy Project facilitated the process for the appointment of Paras by the department. Thabethe, however, defended the appointment of the company and says the reason why they had chosen Paras was because of the milk production models that they were using.

Thabethe says the department conducted research and looked at countries that are doing well in milk production and adds that only a few countries came up. They were also comparing systems and models used by these countries. Thabethe told the commission that he was instructed by the former MEC of the department, Mosebenzi Zwane, that Ashok Narayan - who he says was the advisor to then Premier, Ace Magashule - should accompany him to India.

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