The Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court sentenced three individuals, two males and one female, to an effective six-year imprisonment each for tampering with essential infrastructure and malicious damage to property on September 9.
The trio were found guilty on June 27 for the theft of Eskom pylon tower parts in Braamfischer, during the Covid-19 lockdown in September 2021.
The suspects have been in custody since 2021, after being apprehended as a result of a tip-off by a community member to authorities and they have been denied bail after successful opposition by the state and police.
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Each received a four-year imprisonment sentence, with an additional four years suspended for five years, for tampering with essential Eskom infrastructure and malicious property damage and they were also sentenced to two years imprisonment, with three years suspended for five years, for the theft of the Eskom tower members.
“We express our deepest gratitude for the active citizenry demonstrated by the community through the tip-off and the prompt action by the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies that led to this successful conviction.
“This is a testament to the effectiveness of partnerships with all stakeholders in combating criminality in our communities. We are pleased with the harsh sentence, which will serve as a deterrent to others considering similar crimes,” said Eskom Gauteng safety, health, environment and quality middle manager, Kith Maitisa.
“If not addressed, these irresponsible and criminal acts can have dire consequences, including prolonged interruptions to essential services like hospitals and schools that result in irreversible harm to people’s lives and unnecessary costs to Eskom,” concluded Maitisa.
Crime remains a significant threat to Eskom, affecting not only the reliability of supply and financial stability but also endangering the safety and well-being of its employees and communities.
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To combat this, Eskom continually updates its security measures and collaborates with law enforcement agencies.
These efforts have led to a 63% reduction in direct losses due to criminal activities from April 1 to July 31 compared to the same period last year.
Eskom urges all communities across Gauteng and the rest of South Africa to follow the example of the Braamfischer community by reporting theft of Eskom tower members, illegal connections, meter bypasses, and other illegal operations on the network.
Reporting can be done anonymously to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 11 27 22 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323, as well as through other customer contact channels.
