NPA to reinstate Estina dairy farm case as soon as possible after it was struck off court roll
The case involves allegations that millions in state funds were looted in the Free State agriculture department between July 2012 and April 2014.
FILE: National Prosecuting Authority offices in Pretoria. Picture: Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it would reinstate the Estina dairy farm case as soon as possible after it was struck off the court roll at the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein.
The judge cited delays in the matter for her decision.
The case involves allegations that millions in state funds were looted in the Free State agriculture department between July 2012 and April 2014.
Suspects involved include former Free State Agriculture MEC Mosebenzi Zwane, former and current department officials, and Gupta associates, among others.
The defence had asked the court to strike the case off the roll, citing the inability to access the electronic version of the hard copies of the so-called "Gupta leaked emails."
However, NPA national spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, said the State had provided the defence with the hard copies as early as last year.
Mhaga said it's only the electronic version of the hard copies that was only provided to the defence in June.
"This information came to our possession in February 2024. It was then authenticated and a digital platform created for the defence to access same. We believe that they had sufficient opportunity and time to prepare for trial as this information had been already provided to them in 2023."