---
title: "Vrede Dairy Project: More Free State government officials take stand in Gupta-linked corruption trial"
description: "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."
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/2023-01-30-vrede-dairy-project-more-free-state-government-officials-take-stand-in-gupta-linked-corruption-trial/"
published: "2023-01-30T21:03:11"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 333
---

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

> 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.

By Cathy Dlodlo · Published 30 January 2023, 23:03 SAST

## Key points
- The first State Capture trial has entered its second week with testimony from officials from the Free State Agriculture and Rural Development Department. They spoke about documents that authorised the payment of R24.9-million to Nulane Investments for a feasibility study for the Vrede Dairy project. Eight accused, including two former heads of the department, are facing charges in relation to the project. The latest witness, Kenosi Thubisi, became tearful during cross-examination and asked to continue on Tuesday. Three more government officials are expected to testify before a verdict is reached. Visit Daily Maverick for more news on this developing story.
- State Capture trial enters second week with Free State Agriculture and Rural Development Department officials testifying about payments to Nulane Investments
- Five department officials have testified so far in the case against eight accused, including two former heads of the department
- Nulane Investments allegedly did not have capacity to deliver feasibility study and subcontracted Deloitte
- Three more government officials expected to testify as case continues

## Content

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.

![Limakatso Moorosi, Iqbal Sharma, Ronica Ragavan and Dinesh Patel appear at the Free State Division of the High Court in Bloemfontein on 23 January 2023. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/A4sawHI0Tw5jNOu_Q-_q6NjYOyI=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ED_430482.jpg)

*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.

**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**

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.

![Iqbal Sharma during his appearance at the Bloemfontein High Court on 23 January 2023. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/h-se6VuZMgRFIuFcwu79rrc4e7M=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ED_430468.jpg)

*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**