---
title: "Government employee tells Vrede Dairy Project trial: I did not report allegedly irregular Nulane Investments transaction"
description: "A senior official from the Free State department of agriculture testified on Thursday in the first State Capture trial that for years he did not report an allegedly irregular Nulane Investments transaction, and did so only when he was approached by the investigating officer in the case."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "STATE CAPTURE CASE"
author: "Cathy Dlodlo"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/cathy-dlodlo/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-26-government-employee-tells-vrede-dairy-project-trial-i-did-not-report-allegedly-irregular-nulane-investments-transaction/"
published: "2023-01-26T22:01:49"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 230
---

# Government employee tells Vrede Dairy Project trial: I did not report allegedly irregular Nulane Investments transaction

> A senior official from the Free State department of agriculture testified on Thursday in the first State Capture trial that for years he did not report an allegedly irregular Nulane Investments transaction, and did so only when he was approached by the investigating officer in the case.

By Cathy Dlodlo · Published 27 January 2023, 00:01 SAST

## Key points
- Shadrack Cezula, a former Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development supply chain manager, testified for a second day in the Bloemfontein High Court corruption trial involving a R24.9-million feasibility study for the Vrede Dairy Project. Cezula admitted to writing a letter — dictated by then chief financial officer Seipati Dhlamini — that deviated from the department's normal procurement procedures to appoint Nulane Investments. Eight people have been accused in connection with the case, including two former heads of the agriculture department and three company directors. It is alleged that Nulane Investments lacked capacity and subcontracted Deloitte to deliver the service, leading to the controversial Vrede Dairy Project costing R280-million. Cezula revealed that he agreed to turn state witness in order to avoid criminal charges, but did not know what possible charges he could face. The trial continues on Friday with another witness expected to testify.
- Shadrack Cezula has turned State witness in the Bloemfontein High Court corruption trial involving a R24.9-million feasibility study for the Vrede Dairy Project.
- He admitted having written a letter — dictated by then chief financial officer Seipati Dhlamini — motivating that the Free State agriculture department deviated from its regular procurement procedures in the appointment of Nulane Investments.
- The eight accused include two former heads of the agriculture department, Iqbal Sharma, Dinesh Patel and Ronica Ragavan, as well as a second company - Islandsite Investments One Hundred and Eighty - of which Ragavan was a director.
- Cezula admitted that he had agreed to turn state witness to avoid being charged criminally, however he did not know what charges he could potentially face.

## Content

Shadrack Cezula, a one-time supply chain manager in the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Thursday testified for a second day in the Bloemfontein High Court corruption trial involving a R24.9-million feasibility study for the Vrede Dairy Project.

Cezula has turned State witness.

He admitted having written a letter — dictated by then chief financial officer Seipati Dhlamini — motivating that the Free State agriculture department deviated from its regular procurement procedures in the appointment of Nulane Investments.

The eight accused include two former heads of the agriculture department — Peter Thabethe and Limakatso Moorosi.

**Visit**[***Daily Maverick’s*****home page**](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage)**for more news, analysis and investigations**

The other accused are Iqbal Sharma, Dinesh Patel and Ronica Ragavan. A second company — Islandsite Investments One Hundred and Eighty — of which Ragavan was a director, is also among the accused.

According to the charge sheet, Nulane Investments — awarded the contract for the feasibility study — lacked capacity and subcontracted Deloitte to deliver the service. The study led to the controversial Vrede Dairy Project that cost the provincial department R280-million.

During cross-examination, Cezula admitted that he had agreed to turn state witness to avoid being charged criminally, but claimed he did not know what charges he could potentially face.

The State is expected to call its third witness on Friday morning. Acting Judge Nompumelelo Gusha is presiding. **DM**