It said the agriculture department in Free State province, which was due to fund the project, handed the farm to a company called Estina under a 99-year rent-free lease.

But the Mail and Guardian said at the time "the new information strongly suggests that the Guptas, who are close to Free State premier Ace Magashule and employ his son, have played an active behind-the-scenes role in the dairy project."The Gupta family has always denied any wrongdoing.

Today journalists have been praising the newspaper for its investigation:

Simon Allison? @simonallison

This is the story, published 5 years ago, that will ultimately bring down the Guptas. This is the power of persistent, professional, independent journalism. https://twitter.com/mailandguardian/status/963710689578766336 …