Former minerals resources minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, on Wednesday appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court for fraud, theft, money laundering, and corruption related to the Gupta-linked Vrede dairy scam.
More than 200 million rand intended to empower poor black farmers through a dairy project allegedly found their way into the pockets of the notorious Gupta brothers and allegedly funded a family member’s wedding.
Zwane, who once famously described himself as “a river that dilutes insults”, was the MEC for agriculture in the Free State when the funds were allegedly siphoned off.
The former Cabinet minister, who was arrested earlier Wednesday when he handed himself over to the authorities, appeared alongside two other accused – Ronica Ragavan and Ugeshni Govender, a former employee at Sahara, a company owned by the Guptas.
The state did not oppose bail.
Setting out the bail conditions for all three accused Magistrate Estelle de Lange said they may travel outside the country provided the investigating officer agrees to such a request.
Zwane, who is still an African National Congress MP, and his co-accused were released on R10 000 bail each.
He said he intends to plead not guilty.
The former minister will be back in court on 2 November 2022
