Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Roy Jankielsohn MPL and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
– Notorious Gupta-linked Vrede Dairy case returns to court, marking progress toward justice.
– Estimated R475 million spent; 61 intended beneficiaries denied the promised benefits
– Serious governance failures, political interference, and the abuse of public funds
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the return of the Gupta-linked Vrede Dairy Project case to the court roll. This is an important step towards justice in one of the Free State’s most notorious corruption scandals.
While the prosecution of those implicated is a positive step, this matter extends far beyond a single criminal case. The findings arising from the Public Protector’s report and the investigation into the Vrede Dairy Project, including those concerning individuals identified by the Zondo Commission on State Capture, highlighted serious governance failures, political interference, and the abuse of public funds.
The DA maintains that accountability must extend beyond administrative and criminal consequences to include political accountability and that all recommendations flowing from these investigations must be acted upon. In line with the Public Protector’s recommendations, the DA laid criminal complaints with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Most importantly, the real victims remain the intended beneficiaries of the project. The DA estimates that more than R475 million was spent on the project since its inception, of which the current R25 million Nulane case is a mere fraction. Yet the 61 intended beneficiaries have been denied the benefits they were promised.
The DA maintains that all those responsible must be held accountable, regardless of their position, and that every aspect of the scandal identified by oversight and investigative bodies must be fully addressed.