Fraud, corruption and bribery are not new occurrences in South Africa, with these actions making local headlines almost daily.
In a successful sting operation, a businessman in the Roodepoort CBD was arrested on Monday, 30 November for bribing City Power officials over a R3,4 million debt with the entity.
According to City Power spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, the 55-year-old suspect offered to pay the City Power officials R25 000 for them not to cut the electricity at his business.
Mangena continued to say that that the suspect’s business is one of many that the entity has targeted as part of a #KleenaJoburg operation led by the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Councillor Mpho Moerane.
The sting operation was a joint effort between the MMC, the HAWKS, CoJ Group Forensics, the police, and the City Power Revenue Protection Unit.
Mangena stated that the business owner approached the City Power officials in an attempt to negotiate leniency after it was discovered that his panel beater business was stealing electricity. “It is not clear how long the man operated the business without paying for electricity, but he is estimated to owe the City about R3,4 million over a period of three years,” stated Mangena.
According to the statement received, when the officials arrived on the premises earlier to shut off the electricity, the business owner allegedly offered R10 000 to each of the two City officials and R5 000 to the senior technician who was leading the disconnection. The sting operation was set up and the business owner was arrested after paying nearly R10 000 and promising to pay the balance at a later stage.
Councillor Moerane stated that this arrest should serve as a warning to others to stop bribing City officials and to start paying their electricity accounts. The councillor shared his frustration, saying that the business owner is not indigent and can afford to pay for the electricity he has used. The councillor shared the information that the man not only makes money from the panel beating business, but also the 48 rooms next door he rents out at R2 000 each, which have been fed electricity from the business illegally.
“We are going to intensify these operations, especially on businesses across the City of Johannesburg,” concluded the MMC.
Mangena concluded his statement by saying that the HAWKS took the business owner to the Roodepoort Police Station where he was charged with corruption and bribery.
The Roodepoort Police have been contacted for comment on this matter, but by the time of publication, none has been received. An update will be published once comment is forthcoming.
