Despite the Estina Vrede Dairy case being struck off the roll by the Bloemfontein High Court, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday it is hopeful that the reinstatement of the case will have a better outcome the third time around.

The party expressed dismay at the Bloemfontein High Court’s decision taken on Wednesday, saying incidents like this contribute to the public's loss of confidence in the criminal justice system's ability to fight the scourge of corruption and other crimes.

The National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate has said it will reinstate the R280-million Estina dairy farm fraud and corruption case as soon as possible.

The case arose from the alleged looting of the Free State Department of Agriculture and Rural Development between July 2012 and April 2014, with former and current officials of the department, former department MEC Mosebenzi Zwane, Gupta Associates and linked companies accused of corrupt activities.

DA Free State leader Roy Jankielsohn noted that the court’s decision marked a significant setback in the quest for justice for the people of Free State and the beneficiaries who were affected by corruption and State capture.

“The Estina scandal had devastating consequences for the beneficiaries and community who were given hope but were ultimately left disappointed,” said Jankielsohn.

“We will continue to pursue every available avenue to ensure that justice is served and that the affected communities receive the redress they rightfully deserve,” he said.