Zondo commission hears how Vrede dairy farm funded Gupta wedding
The commission of inquiry into state capture has heard how money from the coffers of the Free State, supposed to be used for the Vrede dairy farm project, was allegedly used to pay for the Gupta wedding at Sun City in 2013.
Vrede businessman and farmer Willie Basson appeared before the commission on Friday.
Basson was hired by a private IT company, Estina, which he said was owned by the Guptas to help build a milk processing plant at the farm.
Speaking through a translator, Basson said R500 million was released by the government to fund the project. However, no more than R200 million was used.
"You probably know about the Guptas having a wedding in Sun City? That money comes from the dairy farm," he told the commission’s chair, deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo.
He said those who stole the funds are now sitting in Parliament, but refused to mention names on TV.
Zondo advised Basson to give the names to the legal team so that rule 3.3 notices can be issued.
Basson said it would not take a day to give those names to the commission as the individuals had fled from the police.