Estina was among the 16 indicted by the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) Independent Directorate (ID) in connection with fraud, corruption and money laundering. 

According to the NPA’s ID spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka, there currently is a liquidation process against the company involved in the R288 million criminal case, dating back to 2018. Millions of rands were looted and siphoned off from the project by suspects. This allegedly includes former Agriculture officials and private businesses.

Former mineral resources minister and Free State MEC for Agriculture Mosebenzi Zwane, former head of the department of Agriculture Peter Mbana Thabethe, and former Chief Director Seipati Dhlamini are among the accused.

The Estina matter was revived in 2022 after it was provisionally withdrawn back in 2018 due to a lack of evidence against suspects, including the Gupta associates. OFM News previously reported that the former business owner of the now-defunct Estina company, where millions of rands were allegedly stolen by government officials and service providers, is among the suspects charged in the case.

ALSO READ: Former Estina director charged

Kamal Vasram was also indicted by the state because he allegedly has been part and parcel of the wrongdoing in the project. Over 80 local farmers in Vrede, in the Phumelele Local Municipality, were in limbo following the corruption in the project. Former Minister and MEC for Agriculture, Zwane, hails from the Vrede area.

Testimonies made to the Zondo Commission, chaired by Raymond Zondo, highlighted how the provincial department made a R30 million up-front payment to Estina without any work done or services rendered. The commission heard how Estina’s account only had R16 in its bank account on 4 July 2012, days before the provincial government deposited an amount of R30 million into its account.

The matter has since been transferred to the Free State High Court for pre-trial between the state and suspects.

However, the matter was postponed on Wednesday 25 January, to 21 April 2023 by Acting Judge Nompumelelo Gloria Gusha, to allow suspects to respond to the state’s correspondence and for case management.

ALSO READ: State reiterates its readiness to prosecute Estina suspects

OFM News