Cape Town – A Mpumalanga man was arrested in connection with bomb threats directed to Eskom Group Chief Operating Officer, Jan Oberholzer.
The 27-year-old man was arrested by police on Friday, Eskom said in a statement.
It is alleged that in May, Oberholzer received a bomb threat from an unregistered sim card and an investigation started.
“The internal security investigations team immediately lodged criminal charges on behalf of the Eskom group COO with the South African Police Service for investigation. It was also established that the suspect used an unregistered sim card to send the threatening message,” Eskom said.
The Hawks and investigators from Bidvest Protea Coin traced the man and there was overwhelming evidence linking him to the crime.
“The suspect was arrested by the South African Police Service in the Vosman area at eMalahleni, Mpumalanga. He remains in custody ahead of his court appearance next week,” Eskom said.
Suspect linked to the bomb threat directed at Eskom’s Jan Oberholzer arrested pic.twitter.com/Tjc2N7EDWd
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) November 19, 2022
general manager of security at Eskom Advocate Karen Pillay said such acts of criminality as “malicious”.
“The targeting of Eskom executives and employees who are focused and hard at work during these difficult times is very disturbing. Such acts of criminality are malicious and Eskom takes them seriously.
“This nature and level of threats, therefore, demand that they focus on their personal safety and that of their families instead, distracting them from the critical task their jobs demand of them,” Pillay said.
Pillay said other Eskom executives had also been targeted in recent months.
“Safety and security risks inadvertently impose increased demands on the organisation to secure its resources. We are grateful to the Hawks for their successful investigations and efforts in tracing the suspect at a time when they have many other serious crimes demanding their focus and priority,” said Pillay.
Pillay said Eskom would provide the required support to police to help ensure the suspect is successfully prosecuted and a stiff sanction meted out as a favourable outcome would deter other would-be offenders.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
