This, following their court appearance on Tuesday regarding corruption, fraud and money laundering. The accused Lerato Mngomezulu (39); Disebo Masiteng (59); Mokemane Ndumo (52); Mahlomola Mofokeng (55) and Peter Thabethe (54)  have been granted bail of R10 000 each.

OFM News earlier reported that their arrest came just a month after the directorate had arrested former Free State Agriculture Chief Financial Officer, Seipati Sylvia Dlamini, and Malikomo Mohapi, on similar charges linked to the project.

The Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, confirmed to OFM News the 55-years-old Mohapi is the 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.

Mogale said 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.

OFM News also previously 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.

Seven suspects in total will now be expected to appear before the High Court on September 10 regarding the Vrede Dairy Project.

OFM News