Vrede Dairy Project: More Free State government officials take stand in Gupta-linked corruption trial

Iqbal Sharma during his appearance at the Bloemfontein High Court on 23 January 2023. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)

By Cathy Dlodlo

30 Jan 2023

The first State Capture trial has entered its second week. Officials from the Free State Agriculture and Rural Development Department have made up the majority of the witnesses.

Three more Free State Agriculture and Rural Development Department officials testified in the Bloemfontein High Court on Monday about their signatures on documents that show payments made to Nulane Investments.

The State alleges that Nulane Investments — one of the accused — was paid R24.9-million for a feasibility study for the controversial Gupta-linked Vrede Dairy project. Five officials from the department — which spent R280-million on the flagship project — have testified so far.

vrede dairy project trial From left: Seipati Dhlamini, Iqbal Sharma, Ronica Ragavan and Dinesh Patel appear at the Bloemfontein High Court on 23 January 2023. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)

The eight accused include two former heads of the Free State Department of Agricultural and Rural Development, Peter Thabethe and Limakatso Moorosi, and the department’s former chief financial officer Seipati Dhlamini. The other accused are Iqbal Sharma, Dinesh Patel, Ronica Ragavan and a second company, Islandsite Investment One Hundred and Eighty, of which Ragavan was a director.

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According to the charge sheet, Nulane Investments — which was awarded the contract for the feasibility study — did not have the capacity to undertake the study and subcontracted Deloitte to deliver the service.

vrede dairy sharma Iqbal Sharma during his appearance at the Bloemfontein High Court on 23 January 2023. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)

The first State Capture trial has entered its second week and officials from the Free State Agriculture and Rural Development Department have made up the majority of the witnesses. They testified about their signatures on documents that authorised the payment in three tranches.

The latest official on the witness stand, Kenosi Thubisi, said he had been new in the department when he was asked to sign a document on behalf of his manager. During cross-examination, Thubisi became tearful and asked acting Judge Nompumelelo Gusha if he could continue on Tuesday. The State is expected to call three more government officials to testify.

The case continues. DM

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