Four suspects, including an Eskom employee and directors of associated companies, were arrested for fraud, theft, and money laundering following an investigation by the Hawks.

The arrests were made yesterday.

Nontuthubo Surprise Mahweliri (44) from the Hendrina Power Station, her company NKG Trading Investment (PTY) LTD, Mokgawa Recca Sewla (39), the director of Dithari Funding, and the company were arrested by the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit.

It is said that during August 2022, the Special Investigating Unit received information regarding the accused, who was an Eskom employee, and misrepresented to Eskom that she was not conducting business with the entity.

During the investigation, it was revealed that she was a shareholder in NKG and Dithari. Both companies were conducting business with Eskom.

This was discovered on the declaration forms and tender documents submitted by NKG and Dithari Funding to Eskom.

As a result, Eskom suffered an actual loss of R1m.

The matter was referred to the Hawks for further investigation. The team linked the accused with the crime after witness statements were obtained.

The investigation was finalised, and the case was presented to the prosecutor for a decision.

After the Public Prosecutor analysed the case docket and found that there is a prima facie case against the accused, he issued a warrant of arrest against the four accused.

The warrant of arrest was executed and the suspects appeared in the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The accused were each granted R50 000 bail, the case was postponed to February 19, and transferred to the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court.