WeeklySA_AdminSTING: Case relates to Eskom investigations which uncovered a syndicate that was paid to deliver three containers to power station…
By Myles Illidge
The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced Jessie Kubheka, a director and shareholder at an Eskom supplier, to a combined 16 years in prison, suspended for five years.
The supplier was implicated in a fraud and corruption case at Tutuka Power Station. Eskom welcomed the sentencing in a statement, describing it as a landmark step in the fight against organised crime. “Eskom welcomes the sentencing handed down on 22 August 2025,” it said.
Kubheka’s sentence comprises 12 years for fraud and four years for money laundering, both suspended for five years. The court has also ordered her to repay Eskom R2.6 million.
Eskom explained that the sentencing relates to a case from 2020, in which Eskom’s investigations uncovered a syndicate that was paid to deliver three containers to the power station.
“Only one container was delivered, and it failed to meet Eskom’s specifications. Although each container was valued at R60,000, the invoice amount was grossly inflated,” it said.
“Through the use of overpriced invoices, the scheme defrauded Eskom of R2,595,000.”
Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane said the utility’s commitment to eliminating corruption remains unwavering.
“These developments send a clear message: fraud and corruption will not be tolerated,”he said. “The vast majority of Eskom employees act with integrity and dedication.”
Marokane added that Eskom will continue to pursue those who harm the utility with its law enforcement partners and seek prosecutions wherever possible. The power utility had consolidated its forensic, security, and investigative functions within its Group Investigations and Security Division to strengthen governance and accelerate investigations.
The division works closely with the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure Energy Safety and Security Committee, which it said ensured swift action against fraud and corruption.
“Eskom urges employees and the public to help protect the organisation by reporting any knowledge of fraud, theft, or illegal electricity sales, “the power utility added.
In another Eskom-related bust in March earlier this year, six suspects were arrested in connection with a 2018 procurement fraud and theft at South Africa’s (SA) Kusile Power Station in the Mpumalanga province.
They were apprehended by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure in collaboration with the Mission Area Joint Operational Centre. The suspects included two current employees at Kusile and one former employee.
At the time, the investigation revealed that a pump was procured twice, in 2015 and in 2018, using the same unique number, resulting in losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of rands for Eskom. Two suspects were arrested at Kusile Power Station, including a procurement officer. They were apprehended at the port of entry, as they attempted to leave the country. Four additional suspects were later arrested, including a former procurement manager and an end user. During the operation, police seized a handgun, a rifle, ammunition, a laptop, and mobile phones.
Reports can be made anonymously through the Eskom Crime Line — 0800 11 27 22 or via WhatsApp — 081 333 3323. – Fullview/additional reporting by Weekly SA Mirror
MIRROR Briefs
MURDER DOCKETS RETURNED
Police national commissioner Fannie Masemola has issued a directive that 121 case files that were seized would be returned to the KZN Political Killings Task Team. This comes after KZN commissioner, Lt. -Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, claimed that the dockets that were under investigation were taken away from the political killings task team by the Deputy Police Commissioner for crime detection, Shadrack Sibiya.
The claims led to Sibiya being suspended pending the outcome of the police commission of inquiry by retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
According to Mkhwanazi, 121 dockets were taken away from the KZN political killings task team due to interference by Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu and Sibiya. Speaking to the media on the second day of the 27th Interpol African Regional Conference in Cape Town, Masemola said the dockets were traced to the police headquarters in Pretoria. He then gave the directive that they must be returned to KZN for investigation.
“The detectives are busy with making copies, and then from there they will be sent back to the provincial commissioner, and he will allocate them back to the political killings task team and investigations will continue.”
The cases contained in the dockets were complex matters that included murder, attempted murder and intimidation. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
THE LATE JUDGE HONOURED
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has sent condolences on the passing of Judge Vuyelwa Vivienne Tlhapi.
Tlhapi, who served at the Gauteng North High Court in Pretoria, passed away last week. She was widely respected for her analytical jurisprudence, integrity and commitment to strengthening the rule of law. Throughout her distinguished career, Tlhapi advanced justice, accountability and good governance through landmark rulings, including the restoration of the AmaRharhabe kingship, the order compelling the release of records relating to the Nkandla project and judgments reinforcing principles of fair process.
Tlhapi devoted her life to public service, beginning as a Magistrate, progressing through private practice where she co-founded her own firms, and serving as an Independent Electoral Commission commissioner during South Africa’s first democratic elections. She was selected for the pioneering Bridget Mabandla Aspirant Judges Programme and appointed a judge in 2010, earning a reputation for fairness, integrity, and dedication to constitutional and administrative justice. Kubayi has extended her heartfelt condolences to Tlhapi’s family, colleagues and the broader legal fraternity.
“The justice family is poorer with the passing of Judge Tlhapi. Her unwavering commitment to justice, transparency, and fairness has left an enduring legacy in our courts,” said Kubayi – SAnews.
SASSA TIGHTENS SECURITY
Social grants agency Sassa, will introduce mandatory biometric enrolment for beneficiaries at its offices from September 1, 2025.
Until now the system has only applied to applicants for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and to beneficiaries whose grants are being reviewed by Sassa. Now it will be extended to all new applications. Beneficiaries who want to change their personal details will also have to enter biometric data such as fingerprints or facial scans. Sassa spokesman Paseka Letsatsi said all grant applications captured and approved from 1 September would include biometric fingerprint enrolment or facial recognition through an electronic “know your client” (eKYC) process.
Sassa was “ramping up its efforts to improve its systems, and detect and effectively root out any fraudulent elements in the social grant administration,” Letsatsi said in a statement. He said Sassa had set up the necessary infrastructure and tools in all its offices to carry out the biometrics.
Already, beneficiaries whose cases were under review by Sassa – because of changes in their financial or personal circumstances – had to undergo biometric registration. In May, Sassa said about 210 000 beneficiaries had been flagged after data from credit bureaus showed undisclosed income .Their grantS were withheld until they completed an in-person verification at a Sassa office. – Fullview
PANEL TO TACKLE INEQUALITY
South Africa has set up a panel to tackle extreme wealth inequality as part of its Group of Twenty (G20) chairmanship, a step that may irk the US. The Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts was commissioned by President Cyril Ramaphosa and will be chaired by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz. It will present its first report on global inequality to G20 leaders, along with possible solutions to address the issue. South Africa is due to host the leaders in November. “People across the world know how extreme inequality undermines their dignity and chance for a better future,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
“They saw the brutal unfairness of vaccine apartheid, where millions in the Global South were denied the vaccines to save them. They see the impacts of rising food and energy prices, of debt, of trade wars, all driving this growing gap between the rich and the rest of the world, undermining progress and economic dynamism.”
Recent analysis shows that since 2015, one percent of the world’s wealthiest had increased their wealth by more than 33.9 trillion dollars in real terms – more than enough to eliminate annual global poverty 22 times over.
“Inequality was always a choice and G20 nations have the power to choose a different path on a range of economic and social policies, “Stiglitz said. – Fullview
