Land reforms Minister Gugile Nkwinti was apparently instrumental in a process to help former Luthuli House employee, Errol Velile Present, and his business partner Moses Boshomane, obtain a farm for R97 million in the Northern Transvaal near Nylstroom.
Both the “lucky” owners had no land claim to the farm and both have no experience in the agricultural industry. The minister admitted that he facilitated the agreement for R2 million.
As in most land reform projects, the workers on the farm have not received payment and the farm is badly managed. R30 million was given to the new owners to acquire equipment or to pay salaries. About 3,000 cattle worth R18 million were sold, farm implements disappeared and crops have died.
The firm Deloitte, which investigated the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the farm, recommended that Nkwinti should be charged for possible corruption.
Read the original article in Afrikaans on Die Vryburger
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