Six arrested for Kusile procurement fraud
Six suspects have been arrested in connection with an investigation into procurement fraud and theft at Kusile Power Station.
The allegations of theft and fraud date back to 2018.
The charges relate to the procurement of a pump in 2018, which was later found to have been purchased by Eskom in 2015, with the same unique number, resulting in significant financial losses for Eskom.
The value of the crime amounts to hundreds of thousands of rands, and it is alleged that service providers colluded in submitting fraudulent quotations.
Two of the suspects, including a Kusile Power Station procurement officer, were arrested as they attempted to leave the country on Friday
In the early hours of Saturday, four more suspects, including a former procurement manager and an end user at Kusile Power Station, were also taken into custody.
During the operation, police seized a handgun, a rifle, ammunition, a laptop, and cell phones.
Police spokesperson Nonkululeko Phokane said National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has praiser the successful operation.
"General Masemola emphasised that these arrests demonstrate the government’s commitment to tackling economic crimes that undermine the country’s stability and development," said Phokane.
“Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects are scheduled to appear in the eMalahleni Magistrates' Court on Monday.”
Kusile Power Station has faced numerous challenges since construction began in 2008, initially planned to be completed in six years.
However, the project has suffered significant delays, with Unit 1 completed in 2017, and the entire station still not fully operational as of 2025.
Kusile's troubled history includes escalating costs, technical defects, labor unrest, environmental concerns, and operational hurdles, all contributing to South Africa’s ongoing energy crisis.
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