Cape Town — As Eskom battles against higher stages of loadshedding, the power utility revealed that nine people were arrested at Kusile Power Station due to alleged fraud and coal theft.
In a statement released on Friday, Eskom confirmed that eight weighbridge operators and a coal truck driver, employed by the Eskom Rotek Industries, were the ones arrested.
A thorough investigation conducted by SAPS and an internal Eskom investigation supported by the Bidvest Protea Coin Investigation team led to the arrest of the nine individuals, after the received information that coal haulers would pass Kusile Power Station without intending to offload the coal, they said.
Nine people were arrested at the Kusile Power Station for theft of coal and fraud pic.twitter.com/y5KA6KF81p
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) September 8, 2023
“Investigations revealed that the weighbridge operators would process weighbridge transactions without the coal hauler having entered the power station to offload the coal. Kusile Power Station would, however, be invoiced for the coal ordered but not received.”
The suspects have been detained at the Phola police station and they said it anticipated more arrests.
According to Botse Sikhwitshi, acting general manager for security at Eskom, the arrests were a significant step in the company’s fight against the crime and added that the persecutors are set to face the full wrath of the law.
News24 reported that the troubled power utility has been fighting an uphill battle against coal theft, something which former chief executive André de Ruyter was particularly vocal about.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@Eskom_SA
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
