South Africa’s power utility company, Eskom, has welcomed the sentencing of two individuals involved in separate criminal activities targeting critical infrastructure at the Duvha Power Station in Mpumalanga.
The Middelburg Magistrate’s Court, on October 8, sentenced Tseliso Ramosebetsi to 15 years in prison.
Ramosebetsi was caught cutting and removing copper cables from the coal conveyor belt, a vital component of the Duvha Power Station’s operations.
Ramosebetsi and his accomplice, Mpho Johannes Machekela, were apprehended on 26th March 2024 after being detected through drone surveillance.
While Ramosebetsi has been brought to justice, Machekela absconded from trial, and a warrant for his arrest has been issued.
In a separate case, the Witbank Magistrate’s Court sentenced Frederick Jacobs Van Wyk to five years in prison on 23rd October 2024 for the theft of aluminium cables near the horticulture site outside the Duvha Power Station.
These significant sentences highlight the gravity of crimes against critical infrastructure and serve as a deterrent to others.
Eskom commended the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their dedication to securing these convictions and BB thanked its security teams for their vigilance and collaboration in protecting the nation’s assets.
Tampering with or damaging critical infrastructure is a criminal offence under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act, with penalties of up to 30 years’ imprisonment.
Such activities disrupt essential services, pose serious safety risks, and undermine the sustainability of the electricity network and impacting communities and the economy.
Eskom is committed to safeguarding the security and integrity of its critical infrastructure.
The ongoing collaboration between Eskom’s internal security investigations team and law enforcement agencies, coordinated by the National Energy Crisis Committee’s (NECOM) Safety and Security Priority Committee, is yielding positive results in their efforts to combat crime and corruption.
Eskom urged the public to report any suspicious or unlawful activities anonymously through the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 11 27 22 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com