Three accused, Dibuseng Business Enterprise, Dony Mmathinyane Mtau (31) – the sole director, and Maphoto Manape Sylvane Mokgadi (55), appeared before the Middelburg Regional Court yesterday, December 6.

This follows their arrest by the Hawks Middelburg Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit on the same day for fraud and theft.

The arrest came after the accused allegedly colluded to defraud Eskom.

In 2017, Arnot Power Station issued an order to the DLC 56 project for the purchase and delivery of valves.
The company allegedly supplied the valves to Arnot Power Station.

In early 2020, Arnot Power Station issued another order for valves, which the accused delivered.
These valves were exclusively manufactured by Billfinger Intervalves as per Eskom’s specifications.

In late 2020, Tutuka Power Station ordered valves from Dibuseng Business Enterprise.
The company delivered the valves to Tutuka Power Station, receiving a payment of R 1 039 116.

Upon inspection, Tutuka Power Station’s manager discovered that the valves did not match their purchase order.
The manager contacted Dibuseng Business Enterprise, but the sole director, allegedly Mtau, allegedly failed to provide clarification.

The manager, aware that Billfinger was the sole valve manufacturer, contacted them and discovered that Dibuseng Business Enterprise never purchased valves from Billfinger.
Forensic investigators confirmed that the valves delivered by Dibuseng Business Enterprise were stolen from Arnot Power Station in 2020.

Further investigation revealed that Dibuseng Business Enterprise allegedly fraudulently changed the supplier names on the documents to its own business name.
One of the accused allegedly assisted in possessing the stolen valves.

Due to Eskom purchasing the same valves twice, an actual loss of R 1 039 116 occurred.

Dony Mmathinyane Mtau was granted R20 000 bail, and Maphoto Manape Sylvane Mokgadi was granted R10 000 bail.

The case was postponed to February 20 for the first appearance at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.