Small scale farmer Meshack Ncongwane, who along with 80 other farmers was supposed to benefit from a stake in the Estina Dairy Farm, walks alongside his cattle on a farm near Vrede, South Africa, April 17, 2019The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate has expressed disappointment at the Free State High Court’s decision toYesterday’s judgment follows the defence’s application to have the matter removed from the roll, citing undue delays.
This matter emanates from the alleged looting of R280 million from the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department between July 2012 and April 2014.NPA spokesperson Adv. Mthunzi Mhaga says, “The information which is the subject of the 342A application was provided to the defence as early as 2023. However, it is only the electronic version of the hard copies of the so called Gupta leaked emails that was not provided.