Update on Eskom’s Kusile Power R2,2B corruption case

One more suspect has been arrested in relation to the multi-billion rand Kusile Power Station fraud and corruption case. Lese’tsa Johannes Mutchinya appeared before the Middleburg Magistrate’s Court on and was granted R100 000.

ESKOM EXECUTIVE IMPLICATED IN CORRUPTION TRIAL

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Mutchinya was arrested in his home in Gauteng and faces money laundering changes after if was discovered that he had been laundering money through his different businesses. He is suspected to have laundered as much as R3,1 million.

He joins a lengthy suspect list which includes, former SA Local Government Association (SALGA) Chief Executive Thabo Mokwena, Eskom’s former interim Chief Executive Matshela Koko, his wife, Mosima Koko, and Koko’s stepdaughters Koketso Aren and Thato Choma. Eskom Project Director at Kusile (most senior on site) Hlupheka Sithole, Lawyer Johannes Coetzee and Watson Seswai.

National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson, Sindisiwe Seboka says more are still to be added to the suspect list.

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“The companies that were allegedly used to launder money are still to be added in the next court appearance”, says Seboka.

In February the SIU revealed Swiss engineering company as one of the companies implicated in the matter.

SIU INVESTIGATION LINKS SWISS FIRM

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The SIU probe revealed that Eskom irregularly appointed a Swiss engineering company, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) to do work at Kusile Power Station to the tune of approximately R2.2 billion.

— Special Investigating Unit (SIU) (@RSASIU) October 28, 2022

Koko, former Eskom Executive, is said to have flouted tender procedures and appointed Asea Brown Boveri(ABB), Impulse International and other sub-contractors.

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In December 2020 ABB opted to settle with the SIU and Eskom and paid back just over R1,5 billion. According to SIU spokesperson, the settlement does not absolve the company in any criminal proceedings.

“The SIU clearly stated at the time of the settlement that the settlement would not absolve ABB, or anyone implicated from criminal prosecution” Kganyago says.

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