Eskom Fraud Case: Company Director Receives 12-Year Sentence and Ordered to Repay R2.6 Million
Middelburg – A company director involved in a fraudulent scheme worth millions of rand targeting Eskom’s Tutuka Power Station has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay back over R2 million to Eskom.
The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Mpumalanga handed down the sentence to Jessie Phindile Kubheka, a director and majority shareholder of one of the implicated firms, on 22 August 2025.
Kubheka received a 12-year prison term for fraud, suspended for five years under strict conditions, along with an additional four years for money laundering, also suspended for five years.
Additionally, she must repay R2,595,000 that had been fraudulently obtained from Eskom.
This sentencing is linked to a 2020 investigation by Eskom, which exposed a syndicate tasked with delivering three containers to the power station.
Only one container was delivered, and it failed to meet the required standards.
Despite each container being valued at R60,000, the syndicate submitted significantly inflated invoices to defraud Eskom of R2.6 million.
“Our commitment to combating corruption is unwavering, and these actions send a clear message: fraud and corruption will not be tolerated,” stated Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane.
“The vast majority of Eskom employees act with integrity and dedication.
“We will actively pursue those who betray the organization and the nation, collaborating with law enforcement to seek prosecutions whenever possible.”
Eskom has strengthened its forensic and investigative resources within the Group Investigations and Security (GIS) Division, which reports directly to the CEO, to facilitate such investigations more efficiently.
The utility remains committed to encouraging the public and its employees to anonymously report any instances of fraud via the Eskom Crime Line (0800 11 27 22) or on WhatsApp (081 333 3323).
*This article first appeared in our sister publication techfinancials.co.za