Diesel thieves arrested at Eskom
Two security guards employed by a company contracted by Eskom to protect Port Rex Power Station in East London were arrested on Monday (28 November) for stealing 5,863 litres of diesel, said Eskom in a statement.
The stolen diesel is valued at approximately R145,930.07, and the guards were arrested whilst on shift at the Eastern Cape power station.
“Through internal investigations, it was established that the arrested contract security guards permitted a vehicle to collect the stolen diesel from the site during the night shifts, for which they were paid in return,” said Eskom.
The internal investigations supported by the Bidvest Protea Coin Investigation Team and SAPS arrested the two security guards a few days after Eskom laid criminal charges for the theft of diesel incidents.
The two suspects will appear in the East London Magistrate Court on Wednesday (30 November).
“It is appalling that the individuals entrusted with safeguarding our infrastructure resort to such acts of malfeasance. These arrests are another significant step in our fight against crime at Eskom, and we shall continue in our pursuit to ensure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law,” said Advocate Karen Pillay, General Manager for Security at Eskom.
The investigations are ongoing to identify other suspects, and the outcome will determine further actions to be taken against the contracted security company, including but not limited to loss recovery, stated Eskom.
“In our efforts to clean out the organisation, we shall ensure that guarding companies contracted to Eskom toe the line in screening their personnel and delivering services of a high standard,” said Pillay.
Eskom noted that it would provide the necessary support to the authorities to ensure that the suspects are successfully prosecuted and that the maximum permissible sanction is imposed.
Other arrests
Earlier this month, two truck drivers were arrested at Camden power station while possessing stolen coal.
Following this incident, Eskom arrested a maintenance worker for sabotaging one of its units at the same power station. The perpetrator confessed, saying he intentionally removed the plug to cause the trip to ensure that his employer would be awarded additional maintenance and repair jobs at the station.
Additionally, a week later, Eskom announced the arrest of another coal delivery truck driver on Tuesday (22 November) at the Camden Power Station once again.
The driver was found in possession of sub-grade coal destined for the national power utility, said Eskom. According to the energy company, the truck belonged to a transport group contracted to deliver coal.
In light of these incidents, Eskom CEO André de Ruyter said he’s questioning the criminal justice system’s commitment to combating crimes against the state after the recent arrest and subsequent release of an alleged coal thief by the Belfast magistrate’s court.
De Ruyter’s sentiments also stemmed from the fact that the perpetrator who sent a bomb threat to Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer in May was released on R2,000 bail by the Witbank magistrate’s court on Monday on a charge of contravening the Explosives Act.
De Ruyter says threats to staff have dramatically increased since the power utility started clamping down on sabotage and corruption. Station managers are now wearing bulletproof vests to work, and de Ruyter says more must be done by authorities to help Eskom fight against crime.
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