‘Graft is rife in farm projects’

AFRICAN FARMERS ASSOCIATION: THIS DEPRIVES NEW FARMERS OF THE SUPPORT THEY NEED

Big investments are lost to corrupt people in name of black farmers – Afasa.

The African Farmers Association of South Africa (Afasa) yesterday welcomed the arrests of government officials and others linked to fraud and corruption involving the Estina dairy project in the Free State, saying it was happening on a large scale and was depriving black farmers of support.

“In many cases, black farmers have unfairly been portrayed in a negative light following cases like Vrede, where large investments are lost in failed projects conceptualised by corrupt individuals in the name of black farmers.

“The Vrede case is typical of many projects in which officials connive with well-connected individuals masquerading as farmers to swindle government out of money meant for farmer development,” said Afasa president Dr Vuyo Mahlati.

“Corrupt individuals in and out of government use such projects to siphon money from taxpayers and report huge investments for black farmers, while depriving hard-working black farmers of the support they deserve,” she said. “This has to stop.” During a consultative meeting with Free State MEC for agriculture and rural development Oupa Khoabane on Thursday, Mahlati expressed concern about the incident.

The meeting was part of Afasa’s provincial roadshows to promote productive farming and support black commercial farmers.

Khoabane welcomed Afasa’s engagement, promising to do everything in his power to stop corrupt practices.

“Projects meant to benefit farmers must be designed in consultation with the farmers with clear deliverables,” said the MEC.

Seven of the eight people arrested by the Hawks in raids this week were granted bail in the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Thursday.

Former Free State provincial government officials Peter Thabethe, Sylvia Dlamini and Takisi Masiteng were each granted bail of R10 000, while Varun Gupta, a nephew of the Gupta brothers and former CEO of Oakbay Resources, Oakbay CEO Ronica Ragavan, former Oakbay CEO Nazeem Howa and Sahara Computers CEO Ashu Chawla, representing Oakbay Investments, were each granted R200 000 bail.

Ajay Gupta is reportedly on the run from authorities.

The case against Estina director Kamal Vasram was postponed to Monday.

They face charges of fraud, theft, conspiracy to commit fraud and theft and contravening the Public Finance Act, Companies Act and sections of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. – ANA