POLOKWANE – The Hawks Anti-Corruption Unit arrested a 26-year-old man for corruption in Mankweng last Friday.
The man, who is an Eskom employee, was supposed to disconnect electricity at a house in Mankweng of which the owner owed Eskom R96 000.
Instead of disconnecting the electricity supply to the house, the employee demanded R600 from the home owner to keep the electricity connected.
He frequently went back to the house demanding more money and that is when the owner reported the matter to the police.
A trap was set for the suspect where the victim arranged to hand over the requested payment and the police arrested the suspect immediately after he received the bribe.
Lt Matimba Maluleke, the Spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed that the man appeared in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Monday and was released on R1 000 bail.
“The case was postponed to 15 June for further investigation,” Maluleke said.
This is the third arrest for the Hawks in less than three months in connection with Eskom electricity matters.
A 36-year-old suspended Eskom employee was denied bail in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on 15 March after he was arrested and charged with fraud and theft.
The man was out on bail for similar offences when he was arrested by the Hawks for defrauding Eskom by installing Eskom electricity illegally to many houses including his own house at Mamadimo Park near Mankweng.
Maluleke confirmed that Eskom suffered a loss of more than R1,2 million. The suspect’s next court appearance is on 30 June.
In another case a 31-year-old man, who is an employee of a company contracted by Eskom, was arrested for fraud on 15 March after he used the company’s cables and meter boxes to connect Eskom electricity illegally to two houses at Ga Thoka in return of R4 000 per house.
“The suspect appeared in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court and was released on R2 000 bail.
“His case was postponed to 30 June for further investigation,” Maluleke said.
