Eskom employees and fuel tanker driver arrested for fraud and theft

The South African Police Services (SAPS) Illicit Mining and Economic Infrastructure Task Team has arrested an Eskom employee and a fuel tanker driver for fraud and theft.

According to Eskom on Friday, the police were observing various fuel trucks at Kendal Power Station when they noticed a fuel tanker approaching from the power station.

ALSO READ: Eskom employee arrested for allegedly stealing hydraulic oil worth more than R800k

The truck was stopped and inspected, close to a Petrol Station in Ogies.

“On inspection, it was established that the tanker contained a full load of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). During questioning, the driver presented a weighbridge slip confirming delivery of the fuel,” Eskom in a statement on Friday.

R300k loss

The driver was instructed to proceed back to the Kendal Power Station where arrangements were made to have the tanker re-weighed.

“It was then established that only 1 680kg of fuel was offloaded instead of the full consignment. Eskom suffered a loss of approximately R300 000.”

The driver was arrested and a criminal case of fraud and theft was opened at the Ogies Police Station.

The truck driver has since been released on a R2 000 bail after making an appearance in the Ogies Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

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On Tuesday, two Eskom plant operators from Kendal Power Station linked to the matter were also arrested and are expected to apply for bail on Monday.

Last October, an employee from Eskom’s Tutuka Power Station was arrested for allegedly removing 10 drums of hydraulic oil from the on-site storage facility.

The employee’s arrest followed Eskom’s internal investigation, assisted by the Hawks.

According to Eskom, the stolen drums of hydraulic oil are valued at more than R800,000.

Eskom staff being paid ‘well enough’

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has previously warned Eskom employees who might be involved in “mischievous” and “nefarious” activities to rather focus on doing their job properly as they’re being paid well enough.

Briefing the portfolio committee on public enterprises, Gordhan said though he did not want to get into it, there was “some indication” that there might be “mischief” going on at Eskom which was contributing to the power crisis.

“There hasn’t been the kind of attention required in order to figure out what’s really going on. But there is a message that needs to go to the Eskom staff on one hand and also to those who still feel aggrieved because they had to leave the opportunities for all sorts of mischievous stuff at Eskom, and now want to retaliate in one form or another because egos wouldn’t allow them to accept that it’s time for them to move on and leave the job to somebody else to do,” said the minister at the time.

READ MORE: Gordhan warns Eskom staff involved in ‘nefarious’ activities