DA to take Mkhwebane’s report on Vrede dairy farm on review

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane has announced that his party will be taking public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s report on the Gupta-linked Vrede dairy project in the Free State on review.

Maimane made the announcement on Monday morning in Cape Town during a media briefing on the outcomes of the DA’s recent Federal Council meeting at the weekend.

In her report, Mkhwebane found that the Free State department of agriculture contravened the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). Maimane said Free State Premier Ace Magashule and the Gupta family got off “scot-free” in the report.

Last week, the DA leader said Mkhwebane ignored crucial evidence during her investigation on the controversial dairy project. He said the project originated from Magashule’s office, however, the public protector made no mention of the involvement of the Guptas and the premier, including how they benefited from the project.

“There has been a large amount of evidence of grand corruption and money-laundering relating to Vrede that is already in the public domain. Yet none of this seems to have been investigated by the Public Protector.  When I took the intended beneficiaries to meet with the Public Protector in December last year, she promised to act in good faith and to conduct a comprehensive investigation,” Maimane said in a statement last week.

Meanwhile, parliament’s justice and correctional services portfolio committee at the weekend said it would urgently call Mkhwebane to appear before the committee to explain her statements made in public over the recent weeks and to address allegations that her office is “suppressing” evidence.

Committee chairperson Mathole Motshekga said the committee was extremely concerned about the statements and needed clarity on “what exactly she is trying to convey”.

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