This follows after the Hawks made more arrests on Monday, which include government officials. OFM News last month reported that the directorate had arrested former Free State Agriculture Chief Financial Officer, Seipati Sylvia Dlamini, and Malikomo Mohapi for corruption, fraud, and money laundering of over R244 million relating to the project.

Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, confirmed to OFM News the 55-year-old Mohapi is a sole director of Rekgonne Community Projects - a company which entered into an agreement with the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2014 to implement all projects on behalf of the department for a period of two years.

She confirmed preliminary investigations into the case indicate financial irregularities and large payments made to Rekgonne Community Projects between January 2012 and December 2016, as well as into the 49-year-old Dlamini's bank account.

The latest arrests are also in relation to the Rekgonne Community Projects and money deposited into its account.

OFM News previously also reported that over R220 million, earmarked for this project to assist upcoming farmers in Vrede, was looted from the province without any intended beneficiaries seeing a single cent.

Testimonies before the State Capture Commission by intended beneficiaries and former accounting officer Peter Thabethe indicated how millions were paid into Estina upfront without any work being done or services rendered.

The commission last year heard how Estina’s account only had just over R16 on 4 July 2012, days before the provincial government deposited an amount of R30 million into its account, and how the department also paid millions into the Estina account without conducting a proper feasibility study or drawing a proper business plan into the project.

Whilst Dlamini and Mohapi have each been granted bail of R10 000 and the case postponed to September 10 for a High Court date, the five latest suspects are expected to appear before the regional court today.

OFM News