EDITORIAL | Sing, Mosebenzi Zwane, sing ... tell us what you know

When the trove of the so-called Gupta Leaks came out several years ago, it was revealed that Mosebenzi Zwane had opted to take a church choir, the Umsingizane Gospel Choir, on an all-expenses paid trip to India instead of emerging farmers.

The farmers were meant to benefit from training in India as part of a multimillion-rand Vrede dairy farm project which the province had rolled out. A large chunk of the funds meant for this project flowed towards the coffers of the controversial Gupta family.

Both the choir and the farmers were from Vrede — Zwane’s hometown — but it appeared the worshippers gained more favour in the sight of Zwane. 

On Wednesday, the wheels of justice finally started spinning for the disgraced former minerals minister and Free State agriculture MEC, when he had his first day in the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court where he is to answer to charges related to dairy farming project.  

Seeing Zwane and company in the dock of the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court should be bittersweet for scores of farmers who had waited for years for funds promised to them, and meant to transform their businesses and lives but like a lot of things which have been promised by politicians in this country, never came.

Without any ambiguity, chief justice Raymond Zondo in his last instalment of the state capture report outlined how Zwane, like the then Free State premier Ace Magashule, were enablers of the Gupta family’s corrupt dealings which resulted in the country losing billions.  

May Zwane redeem himself and not follow in the footsteps of others before him, who’ve  either pleaded the fifth or chosen to deny all the allegations against them. 

With all the damning evidence and testimonies that have emerged from the state capture commission, one of the disturbing aspects is the lack of remorse from any of those who have been implicated.

Zwane was a lot of things as he appeared in court where he flashed a broad smile, laughed and after court proceedings proclaimed how he had not sinned.  

“I am a law-abiding citizen, so all is well with me,” said Zwane, in response to a question on how he felt.

He has  indicated that he intends to plead not guilty.

If there was one plea that we could make to Zwane, it would be to prove us wrong once his case gets to trial.

May Zwane redeem himself and not follow in the footsteps of others before him, who’ve  either pleaded the fifth or chosen to deny all the allegations against them. 

For someone who prioritises the gospel so highly, would it be asking for a miracle if Zwane was the first of all those implicated in the Gupta shenanigans to  sing on all that he, the Guptas and their allies have done to SA, its people and economy over the years?

From the Vrede dairy project to the Waterkloof landing debacle and the billions in mine rehabilitation funds which were meant for the Gupta’s hands — sing on it all Zwane and if possible, redeem yourself and seek forgiveness from the people of Vrede who were seemingly “sacrificed” for the Guptas. And if the law finds fit, pay for those sins.  

In the meantime, we also issue a stern reminder to powers that be that we also eagerly await the return of the Gupta’s from Dubai and hope that they too will follow in Zwane’s steps.