In a significant breakthrough, six suspects have been arrested in connection with procurement fraud and theft at Kusile Power Station.
This comes after an investigation led by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) and the Mission Area Joint Operational Centre (MAJOC).
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has praised the teams for bringing the suspects to justice.
The case dates back to 2018, when a pump was procured through the Kusile Power Station’s procurement process.
However, investigations revealed that the same pump, identified by its unique serial number, had already been purchased by Eskom in 2015.
This fraudulent transaction resulted in a loss of thousands of rand for the power utility.
Further scrutiny uncovered evidence of collusion among service providers who submitted quotations for the procurement.
The arrests were made in two separate operations.
On Friday, two suspects, including a procurement officer from Kusile Power Station, were arrested at a port of entry while attempting to leave the country.
In the early hours of Saturday, a coordinated intelligence-led operation by MAJOC led to the arrest of four additional suspects.
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Among those detained are a former procurement manager and an end user at the power station.
During the operation, law enforcement officials seized a handgun, a rifle, ammunition, a laptop, and several cellphones, which are expected to aid in the ongoing investigation.
General Masemola highlighted that these arrests underscore the government’s commitment to combating economic crimes that threaten South Africa’s stability and development.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in the eMalahleni Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 17, 2025.
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