Hefty Sentences For Duvha Power Station Thieves

Two people have been sentenced to five and 15 years imprisonment respectively, for crimes targeting critical infrastructure at Duvha Power Station in Mpumalanga.

The two were sentenced in relation to separate incidents at the power station.

Eskom said in a statement that the two sentences underscore the severe consequences of actions that threaten the nations energy supply.

On 8 October 2024, the Middelburg Magistrates Court 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 Duvha Power Station operations, Eskom said.

Ramosebetsi and his accomplice, Mpho Johannes Machekela, were apprehended on 26 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, Eskom said.

In a separate case, the Witbank Magistrates Court sentenced Frederick Jacobs Van Wyk to five years in prison on 23 October 2024 for the theft of aluminium cables near the Horticulture site outside Duvha Power Station.

Eskom said the two sentences should serve as a deterrent to other would-be criminals.

Eskom commends the South African Police Service for their dedication to securing these convictions, and thanks its security teams for their vigilance and collaboration in protecting the nations assets, Eskom said.

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, impacting communities and the economy, the power utility said.

Eskom is committed to safeguarding the security and integrity of its critical infrastructure. The ongoing collaboration between Eskoms internal security investigations team and law enforcement agencies, coordinated by the National Energy Crisis Committees Safety and Security Priority Committee, is yielding positive results in our efforts to combat crime and corruption. SAnews.gov.za