Eskom substation

Two Eskom contracted security guards have been arrested for stealing cables. Photo: Eskom

Stealing R30m: Former Eskom finance controller gets 20-year sentence

No wonder we still have load shedding! A former Eskom employee has been hit with a BIG sentence. He was found guilty of stealing over R30 million.

Eskom substation

Two Eskom contracted security guards have been arrested for stealing cables. Photo: Eskom

It’s never easy to forget just how deep Eskom’s woes run. After years of corruption and dodgy deals, Eskom still struggles to keep the lights on. The power utility and the Hawks are both happy this week, as a former employee was handed a 20-year sentence. Why? Just for the small matter of defrauding Eskom of over R30 million.

Eskom fraudster gets 20-year sentence

The Hawks have welcomed the decision of the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercialised Crimes Court, to hand down a 20-year sentence. Mosai Barnard Moraka, a former Eskom finance employee, and his accomplice, we found guilty of 53 counts of fraud.

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The Hawks say while working at Eskom from 2016 to 2018, Moraka created several fake payment invoices.

“When Moraka was employed as a Financial Controller, he fraudulently created fictitious payment invoices for coal transportation to Palesa Mine. Moraka made payment transactions into Merga Transport, which according to Eskom and Palesa Mine, did not have a contract to transport coal to Palesa Mine.”

Hawks Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu

Both men were arrested in 2019, after the Hawks started investigating.

Some money recovered

The Hawks and the Asset Forfeiture Unit have been able to recover some of the stolen R30 million. Moraka and his accomplice have had their properties seized. Together, they total around R12 million in value.

Both men pleaded guilty to the fraud and money laundering charges in August last year.

Unlike Bathabile Dlamini, these two received no option of a fine with their 20-year sentence.

Commenting on the sentencing this week, Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter expressed his hope that the sentencing would send a storm message to all Eskom employees.