Mosebenzi Zwane
Mosebenzi Zwane is a former Free State Agriculture MEC and Cabinet Minister of Mineral Resources whose career trajectory was, in the Zondo Commission’s assessment, directly shaped by his service to the Gupta Family. He was appointed Mineral Resources Minister by Jacob Zuma in September 2015 — immediately after facilitating two Gupta-benefit projects as Agriculture MEC — and the Zondo Commission found that this appointment was effectively a reward from the Guptas for his cooperation in the Free State Estina dairy (Vrede) scheme and his facilitation of Gupta access to the Optimum Coal Mine.
The Estina/Vrede scheme: In 2012, Zwane — then Agriculture MEC and representing his own home town of Vrede — conceptualised a public-private partnership between the Free State Department of Agriculture and Estina, a Gupta-linked company. The deal gave Estina a free 99-year lease to a 4,400-hectare farm near Vrede, plus a guaranteed approximately R114m per year, ostensibly to run a community dairy farm that would uplift 80+ local black farmers. Zwane and department officials took a Gupta-funded trip to India in October 2012, just before the project was launched. What followed bore no resemblance to the stated purpose: Estina did virtually no agricultural work, over 100 cows died, and R280m in state funds was funnelled through Estina into international money laundering arrangements traced back to Gupta-controlled accounts, including in the UAE. The 80+ local farmers who were supposed to benefit ultimately received R1,300 gift cards and 5kg meat hampers as “compensation” years later. Both Zwane and then-Premier Ace Magashule had received National Treasury red flags about procurement irregularities and ignored them. The Zondo Commission (Vol 4) identified Zwane, HOD Peter Thabethe, and Magashule as the “primary architects” of the looting.
Ministerial appointment as Gupta reward: Zwane’s appointment as Mineral Resources Minister in September 2015 is one of the most documented examples of direct Gupta cabinet influence in the Zondo Commission’s record. The commission found evidence that the Guptas lobbied Zuma directly for Zwane’s appointment and that it was a reward for his facilitation of both the Estina project and Gupta access to Optimum Coal Mine. From the Mineral Resources portfolio, Zwane continued to serve Gupta interests: he rushed through a regulatory process to facilitate the Gupta-linked Tegeta acquisition of Optimum Coal Mine from Glencore — a transaction that also benefited Eskom through below-market coal supply arrangements.
Trial: Zwane was arrested on 28 September 2022 (he handed himself over to police) and appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. Released on R10,000 bail. The ANC applied its step-aside rule. The case was transferred to the Free State High Court in November 2022. The trial was set to begin on 5 August 2024 but was struck from the roll by the High Court on 7 August 2024 due to procedural issues. The NPA announced reinstatement plans and successfully obtained a retrial order in June 2025. As of April 2026, the trial is ongoing with 17 accused.
Connections
- Gupta Family — Estina was a direct Gupta money pipeline; Zwane facilitated it as Agriculture MEC; appointed Mineral Resources Minister as Gupta reward
- Ace Magashule — co-architect of Estina scheme as Free State Premier; also ignored National Treasury warnings; faces separate asbestos charges
- Eskom — as Mineral Resources Minister, Zwane facilitated Tegeta/Gupta acquisition of Optimum Coal Mine; Eskom forced to buy coal at inflated prices
- Zondo Commission — Vol 4: Zwane, Thabethe, Magashule named “primary architects” of Estina looting; appointment as minister found to be Gupta-rewarded
- Jacob Zuma — Zuma appointed Zwane directly at Gupta lobbying; one of the most documented Gupta cabinet appointments
- National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) — case struck off roll August 2024; reinstated June 2025; 17 accused; trial ongoing
- Special Investigating Unit (SIU) — SIU also investigated Estina scheme; civil recovery proceedings parallel to criminal trial