5 government officials arrested in fraud case linked to Vrede dairy farm and Department of Agriculture

In South Africa, the fight against corruption is finally leading to arrests. On 17-Aug-2020, the Hawk’s Serious Corruption Investigation team arrested 5 Free State government officials. This makes 7 arrests so far in the corruption, fraud and money-laundering case linked to the infamous Vrede dairy farm case and the Free State Department of Agriculture, under the leadership of controversial ANC politicians Ace Magashule and Mosebenzi Zwane. The 5 were arrested after payments totalling R244m couldn’t be accounted for, while investigating Estina, a partner company meant to help set up a dairy farming project for black farmers. Lerato Mngomezulu, Disebo Masiteng, Mokemane Ndumo, Mahlomola Mofokeng and Mbana Thabetha appeared in court on 18-Aug-2020 on charges of corruption, fraud and money-laundering. They were each given bail of R10,000. The first 4 were members of the bid evaluation committee, while Thabetha headed up the agriculture department. Get the full story at the links below:

  1. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-18-more-arrests-in-fraud-case-linked-to-vrede-dairy-farm-and-the-free-state-department-of-agriculture/
  2. https://fakazanews.com/2020/08/18/five-free-state-officials-arrested-on-fraud-charges/
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrede_Dairy_Project

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