SEDIBENG.- A De Deur mother and her son are amongst four members of an electricity theft syndicate that will be sentenced on May 22. Jeanette Chiliza, her 25-year-old son Nqobile Chiliza and two other culprits were found guilty of over 16000 counts related to electricity theft.
The two were arrested in December 2012 when they were found in possession of a stolen Credit Dispensing Unit (CDU), a machine belonging to Eskom that prints out prepaid electricity vouchers.
Divisional Executive for Security at Eskom Tebogo Rakau says,“The suspects were arrested by SAPS when they were found in possession of stolen Eskom assets, which they were using to illegally sell prepaid electricity credit to Eskom customers.
The syndicate operated mainly in the Vaal area. However, there is evidence that shows that their operations stretched as far as Kagiso in Johannesburg’s West Rand.”
The judgement against the culprits was made in December 2016 by the Palm Ridge Regional Court. The case was subsequently moved for sentencing to the South Gauteng High Court, which can hand down a life-sentence in such cases.
The probation officers, who testified before the High Court cited the seriousness of the offence as the main reason for their recommendation. The state prosecutor in the case also brought attention to the fact that all four accused have still not admitted guilt, as brought out in the probation officers’ reports, which he argued is an indication of lack of remorse and a sign that the accused were not ready for rehabilitation.
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.
