Eskom has confirmed the arrest of four employees and a contractor security guard in connection with the theft of R500,000 worth of heavy fuel oil from Camden Power Station.
The accused, detained at Ermelo Police Station, were charged following their initial arrests on 10 August 2024.
Two Eskom Weighbridge Operators were apprehended at midnight for colluding to steal and defraud the company.
On 16 August 2024, two additional Eskom employees – a Weighbridge Operator and a Control Room Operator -and a contractor security guard were also arrested.
All suspects remain in custody, with the case postponed to 27 August 2024 for a formal bail hearing.
The investigation began during a routine inspection by Eskom’s Security Investigation team. A truck suspected of being involved in the theft was intercepted while attempting to leave the station.
Although the driver claimed 30,610 kilograms of fuel oil had been offloaded, a subsequent inspection revealed the truck was still full. The driver fled, leading to the arrests.
“Eskom is committed to safeguarding the security and integrity of its critical infrastructure. The ongoing collaboration between Eskom’s internal security investigations team and law enforcement agencies, coordinated by the National Energy Crisis Committee’s (NECOM) Safety and Security Priority Committee, is yielding positive results in our efforts to combat crime and corruption,” said Botse Sikhwitshi, Eskom’s Acting General Manager for Security.
“While the majority of our employees are hardworking and dedicated to enhancing Eskom’s performance, we are fully committed to eradicating corruption. The recent arrests are a positive step in our ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal activities within our organisation, reaffirming Eskom’s zero-tolerance approach to crime and corruption.”
Eskom urges the public to report any unlawful activities, such as fraud, illegal electricity sales, theft of coal, fuel oil, diesel, and crimes targeting critical infrastructure. These reports help Eskom eradicate crime and corruption, potentially saving thousands of rands, as demonstrated in this case.
Reports can be made anonymously via the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 11 27 22 or through WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.
