More shocking allegations against Mosebenzi Zwane at Zondo commission
The commission of inquiry into state capture has heard more shocking allegations around the involvement of former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane in the Gupta-linked Vrede dairy project in the Free State.
Former Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor in Vrede, Doctor Radebe, appeared before the commission on Thursday.
Radebe said shortly after the provincial Department of Agriculture entered into a contract with private IT company Estina to start the project, cattle started to die and the carcasses were dumped into a stream used by the community for drinking water.
He told the commission that he became suspicious and reported the matter to the media.
Radebe also approached the Department of Environmental Affairs since at least 45 cows had been dumped into the river and some were totally decomposed.
Radebe said he was subsequently attacked by people whom he believed were connected to then Agricultural MEC Mosebenzi Zwane.
"After reporting the dead carcass, the report caught the attention of Parliament and people around Vrede became so violent. They were angry at me, as I was the one who reported the matter to the press. I was even attacked personally by a group of people whom by that time we believe was Mr. Zwane's private force."
He also claimed that Zwane made appointments to his office without following due process.
Radebe told the commission that he was once attacked by a group of people who told him not to interfere in the work of the ANC, as the organisation was bigger than him.
He said while he reported the incidents to the police but nothing was done.
He was allegedly told by the police that it would be handled by another unit it was deemed to have been politically motivated attacks.
However, he never received any feedback.