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- A truck driver was arrested for allegedly selling fuel oil meant for Eskom.
- The fuel was worth R500 000, but he sold it for R40 000, according to police.
- He allegedly sold the fuel to a private facility.
A 42-year-old truck driver was arrested for allegedly selling heavy fuel oil meant for Eskom to a private facility for a mere R40 000.
At the time, according to police, the truck driver, Phumlani Johan Hadebe, was working for a company contracted by Eskom to deliver the oil to Camden Power Station in Mpumalanga.
"He never delivered the oil to Eskom, and instead delivered it to a private facility and pocketed the money for his benefit," police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
She said the heavy fuel oil, which is used in power stations for electricity production and supply, was worth R500 000.
Police said intelligence led officers to Gauteng, where Hadebe was arrested on Monday.
He appeared in the Bethal Magistrate's Court on charges of theft and fraud on Tuesday.
READ | Power play: Members of R36m Eskom power theft syndicate tried to bribe cop, indictment reveals
"This arrest emanates from investigations being conducted by the Natjoints Energy Safety and Security Priority Committee which was established pursuant to the National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom) mandate to address security, crime and corruption-related matters hampering the mandate of Eskom," Mathe added.
She said the energy safety and security priority committee's investigations have led to significant successes.
According to police, 1 618 cases were reported between April and October 2023, including theft and damage of critical infrastructure, theft of fuel, overhead cables.
Of these cases, 1 043 are still under investigation and about 207 people have been arrested on various charges.
Mathe added that operations led by the Natjoints have led to the closure of 63 unregulated coal yards so far.
