The suspects - which include Rekgonne Community Projects’ sole director Malikomo Mohapi, former Free State Agriculture HOD Peter Thabethe, former Chief Financial Officer Seipati Sylvia Dlamini, and other government officials - made a brief court appearance before the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Monday where their case was postponed to February 3 to enable authorities to continue further investigations. 

OFM News previously reported that they were arrested by the Hawks in July and August respectively for corruption, fraud, and money laundering of over R244 million. It's alleged money intended for the department’s projects and Estina was unlawfully paid into Rekgonne’s business accounts and the bank accounts of the accused.

The Hawks spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, previously confirmed to OFM News preliminary investigations into the case indicate financial irregularities and large amounts deposited into Rekgonne Community Projects’ account between January 2012 and December 2016, as well as into some of the suspects' bank accounts.

Whilst OFM News previously reported that over R220 million earmarked for Estina to assist upcoming farmers in Vrede was looted from the province, with none of the intended beneficiaries seeing a single cent and some of the money deposited into Rekgonne Community Projects, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping earlier this month corrected information that the project was directly linked to Estina, explaining that investigators stumbled across it whilst they were investigating the dairy farm saga.

The 55-year-old Mohapi, Thabethe, and Dlamini, alongside Lerato Mngomezulu, Disebo Masiteng, Mokemane Ndumo, and Mahlomola Mofokeng, have been ordered to present themselves in Courtroom 17 come February the 3rd.

OFM News