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vrede dairylatest news & developments
The charges in the R24.9 million fraud and money-laundering case underpins South Africa’s ongoing efforts to secure the extradition of Atul and Rajesh Gupta from the United Arab Emirates.

State seeks arrest of Gupta brothers as Vrede dairy suspects appear in court

Salim Essa and three others appeared in court on Thursday, as the Investigating Directorate turns to Interpol for help in capturing more suspects

Investigating smooth criminals: Auditor general Kimi Makwetu was set to take a break after his retirement from the role. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Q&A Sessions: Kimi Makwetu on when you hear the money ‘crying out for help’

The smoke signal comes from irregular expenditure and over the past seven years, there has been about R1.65-billion of it. Auditor general Kimi Makwetu tells Athandiwe Saba that…

“No other person would be permitted to get away with the kind of obfuscation contained in the president’s affidavits,” Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane said in court papers. (Phill Magakoe/The Times/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Mkhwebane loses again, this time over Vrede dairy probe

High court says public protector’s failures when probing Gupta-linked project "impacted on the rights of the poor and vulnerable in society”

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane released her report on the multimillion-rand Vrede Dairy Project — initiated by the Free State government in 2012 as part of its efforts to boost the province’s agricultural economy — in February last year. (Gallo)

Vrede farmers lost trust in Mkhwebane, Zondo commission hears

One of the intended beneficiaries of the Gupta-linked Estina dairy project told the commission they were excluded from Mkhwebane’s investigation

Mkhwebane’s initial report made no findings against former Free State Premier and now ANC secretary general Ace Magashule, and Mosebenzi Zwane who was Free State Agriculture MEC at the time.(M&G/Madelene Cronje)

Parliament must act on Public Protector — DA

The party says it is because of the ruling which found Mkhwebane’s report into the Vrede dairy farm project ‘invalid and unconstitutional’

Suspended Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane. (Deaan Vivier/Gallo)

Mkhwebane ‘astonished’ by Vrede report ruling, may fight back

In a statement issued on Monday evening, Mkhwebane said she was concerned about the ruling

In the application filed in October last year, the DA accused Mkhwebane of being “prudent” in her report. (M&G/Madelene Cronje)

Mkhwebane’s Vrede report ruled ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘invalid’

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s report on the Vrede dairy project has been set aside and declared as unconstitutional and invalid

Deputy public prosecutions head Nomgcobo Jiba listens to former Hawks official Johan Booysen at the Mokgoro inquiry this week. (Paul Botes/M&G)

Prosecutors shouldn’t be concerned with public narratives, Jiba tells Mokgoro inquiry

The embattled deputy national director of public prosecutions said basing decisions on public perceptions could be dangerous

The eight were arrested on charges of fraud and theft. (Gallo)

NPA to provisionally withdraw charges in Estina case

The high-profile state capture case which was expected to resume on December 4 has been dropped

Public protector’s counsel said nothing in the law prohibited her from filing another rescission application. (Gallo)

Vrede: Court hears Public Protector ‘acted incompetently’

Casac argues the report did not include findings relating to the "high-level politicians that played a central role in the project"

Kamal Vasram is the sole shareholder and director of the Vrede dairy farm project. (Rian Horn/M&G)

Estina trial adjourned, magistrate set to decide on lengthy postponement

They were arrested and charged with fraud, theft, conspiracy to commit fraud and theft as well as contravening several Acts

Peter Thabethe

Court lifts AFU restraint order in Vrede dairy case

Luxury vehicles, immovable properties and bank accounts were some of the assets which were subject to the provisional restraint order

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. (Reuters)

Mkhwebane denies protecting Magashule and Zwane in Vrede report

The public protector has been accused of making unreasonable changes to her predecessor’s draft report

PP Busisiwe Mkhwebane found that the allegation that Gordhan violated the Executive Code of Ethics by deliberately misleading Parliament through failing to disclose that he met a member of the Gupta family was “substantiated”.(Madelene Cronje)

Vrede investigation to be reopened to focus on “role of politicians”

The focus of Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s reopened investigation will be on the “roles of the politicians” alleged to be involved in corruption in the case

The order makes provision for the restraint of several assets to the value of R250 202 652.00

Raid at Gupta Saxonwold compound to seize assets related to Vrede dairy farm case

​Authorities raided the Guptas’ Saxonwold compound on Monday to seize assets from those implicated in the Vrede dairy farm case, the NPA said

Ajay Gupta (centre) (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Dirco confirms arrest of SA businessman in Dubai after Gupta video

The department was not able to give further details on the nature of the charge or when Van Pletzen would appear in court.

#The FeesMustFall protests showed that South Africa’s youth are not as apathetic as many believe and were an alternative to political structures from which young people feel excluded.

Gupta brothers dodge another tax deadline in India

​The Gupta brothers have been granted another extension for their appearance before Indian tax authorities on charges of money laundering and tax

Ajay Gupta (centre) (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Ajay Gupta ‘must just hand himself over’― Hawks

Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi was responding to questions after a video showing a relaxed Ajay Gupta in Dubai came out

The Western Cape’s new top cop

Estina arrests not due to change in political winds – Hawks head

For the third week running,General Yolisa Matakata was quizzed about the Gupta-related scam in Parliament when she appeared before Scopa

According to Abrahams

Abrahams accused of putting Estina case “on ice”

Parliament is challenging Shaun Abrahams and his team to explain why the investigation into the Estina farm was not expedited