Themba Keddy Mpika (52) and his company, My Teddy Enterprise (Pty) Ltd, were convicted by the Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Middelburg on nine counts of fraud involving an estimated R2.3m.

Mpika worked as a senior technician at Camden Power Station in Ermelo from February 2017 to February 2020. During that period, he failed to disclose to his employer, Eskom, that he was a director of My Teddy Enterprise.

Part of Mpika’s job included identifying faults, advising the procurement section on the advertisement of tenders, and ordering spare parts for repairs.

According to a press release by the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in Mpumalanga, Monica Nyuswa, while performing these functions, Mpika fraudulently applied for and secured contracts to provide services and parts to the same power station through his company, without disclosing his conflict of interest.

An investigation was conducted, which led to Mpika’s arrest. Mpika faced charges of corruption in terms of Section 17 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, as well as fraud. He pleaded not guilty and told the court that he did not gain an unfair advantage despite his prior employment at Eskom and knowledge of its procurement processes and specifications.

Evidence on Eskom’s Conflict of Interest Policy and procurement procedures was presented in court by the State. Mpika was acquitted of corruption charges, but found guilty on nine counts of fraud.

• The matter was postponed to February 2, 2026, for a pre-sentencing report.