Two staff of Eskom has been implicated, arrested on Thursday, and set to face charges of fraud, theft, and Corruption after they were discovered in link with R100m worth of services paid but weren’t rendered at the Tutuka Power station after a thorough investigation for months by Eskom and relevant law enforcement agencies in Mpumalanga.

Eskom has also indicated that its investigations have established also the existence of a group that is responsible for the theft of nearly R100m worth of fuel per month from the same power station.

“The suspects, Jessie Phindile Kubeka, who is 51% shareholder in a supplier company; Eskom employees Sarah Nomsa Sibiya (Senior Technician Operating) and Bhekizizwe Solomon Twala (Senior Storeperson), are all facing the same charges. They were released on bail of R5 000 each. The trial has been set to down for 21 February 2022,” said spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.

Eskom says four other suspects involved in the elaborate scheme have been identified and will be arrested next week. Arrest warrants are being prepared concerning other suspects in the fuel oil syndicate.

“Eskom, and Tutuka power station, in particular, continues to be the scene of the most despicable of crimes perpetrated by some of the very people tasked with the stewardship of this public institution and by unscrupulous suppliers,” said Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter.

The utility adds that while its management team and Board are currently seized with the restoration of operations, they have also been dismantling well-established crime syndicates that are profiting from the problems that are costing the whole country.

“Whilst these investigations take a long time to come to fruition, the wins whereby arrests are made and criminals are brought to answer for their unlawful conduct, goes a long way towards making a positive contribution to the rebuilding of the organization.”