AFU seizes R249m property linked to Estina farm case
The Free State High Court has granted a seizure order to the Asset Forfeiture Unit to seize property of R249 million, which belongs to senior government officials and businesswoman Lenah Mohapi (55).
It is reported the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development gave a number of contracts to a company called Superior Quality Trading, even though the company never attended any of the required biding meetings.
The criminal matter is currently before the High Court of South Africa, Bloemfontein where they face 54 counts of fraud, theft, corruption, money laundering, forgery and uttering to the value of R249 million.
The suspects are the former chief financial officer of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sylvia Dlamini (49), the former head of department, Peter Thabethe.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Sipho Ngwema, says this is related to the controversial Estina case.
"The matter was discovered during Estina’s financial flow analysis exercise of the bank accounts that there were irregularities and disguised payments to one of the officials," says Ngwema.
"It is alleged that the government officials gave a number of contracts to a company called Superior Quality Trading, which also trade as Rekgonne Community Projects, even though this company did not attend any of the department’s compulsory briefing sessions.
"The company also had a certificate of attendance even though it was not present at the compulsory briefing where these certificates were issued. Between 2012 and 2016, the department is said to have paid more than R244m to the company.
