Kusile: The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has commended the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) and the Mission Area Joint Operational Centre (MAJOC) team for the successful arrest of six suspects following the investigation of procurement fraud and theft at Kusile Power Station in 2018.
According to South African Police Service, the NATJOINTS Energy Safety and Security Priority Committee continues to make significant strides in combating crimes that threaten Eskom’s mandate and the integrity of South Africa’s electrical infrastructure. During 2018, a pump was procured through the procurement process at Kusile Power Station. Investigation revealed that the same pump with the same unique number had in fact already been procured by Eskom in 2015. The actual loss to Eskom and thus value of the crime runs into hundreds of thousands of rand. Service providers had also appeared to have colluded when providing the quotations.
Two suspects, including a Kusile Power Station procurement officer, were apprehended at a port of entry while attempting to leave the country on Friday, 14 March 2025. In the early hours of Saturday, 16 March 2025, an intelligence-led operation activated by the dedicated MAJOC led to the arrest of four additional suspects, including a former procurement manager and an end user at Kusile Power Station.
During the operation, police seized a handgun, a rifle, ammunition, a laptop, and cellphones. Investigations remain ongoing. General Masemola emphasised that these arrests demonstrate the government’s commitment to tackling economic crimes that undermine the country’s stability and development. The suspects are set to appear in the eMalahleni Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 17 March 2025.