Estina chosen as local partner for dairy project despite lack of experience | IOL News

Johannesburg - The former head of agriculture in the Free State battled to account on how Estina, a Gupta-linked company, was chosen as a local partner for the Free State Vrede dairy farm even though the company lacked experience.

On Thursday, Thabethe detailed how he spearheaded the now failed Vrede dairy farm project and how he did “desktop” research to find the best dairy producing company to partner with on the project meant to uplift underprivileged farmers. Thabethe said he was quite satisfied with the outcome of the trip and a representative from Paras flew down to South Africa to talk further on the project. He said it was then that it was decided that Paras would need a local partner if it was to do business with the provincial government. Thabethe battled to answer questions on whether he had interrogated Estina as the perfect partner for the project.

“And what they were involved in you were not interested in in terms of their business? You are the head of a government department and you have identified a company in India that you want to work and you need a local company to be involved in the project. I would have thought that at least you would be interested in whether this company is involved in the same sector and even if it is what experience do they have and how are they run and who are the directors?” Zondo asked.

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