SIU seizes luxury east property in Eskom corruption case
The state will take control of assets from a controversial former Eskom executive and others to recoup losses from an alleged R400-million unlawful tender.
The Pretoria Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has secured two forfeiture orders to the value of R33-million to take control of property including vehicles and a luxury Silver Lakes Estate home in Pretoria east.
These are the final orders to forfeit property that allegedly is the proceeds of an unlawful Eskom Kusile power station tender.
The orders obtained from the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday, March 20 will see the state take control of the assets of a controversial former Eskom executive and others to recoup losses from an alleged R400-million unlawful water trucking services tender.
NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) had been investigating allegations of serious maladministration and corruption at Eskom since January 31, 2020.
“The preliminary investigations revealed that Eskom, in respect of this case, lost almost R400 million to the unlawful tender, which was granted to a company,” Mahanjana said.
“Eskom appointed a vendor, which provided among other things, water trucking services to the Eskom Kusile project site from approximately June 15, 2009 to November 2020.”
Mahanjana said the vendor then made payments to various current and former Eskom officials. The findings have implicated the company’s staff and representatives.
“A woman, who was at the time involved in the appointment, managing, and approving payments, received payments of over R24-million from the vendor,” said Mahanjana.
She said the woman used a convoluted structure of entities, as well as members of her family, to receive and utilise funds from the venture.
According to Mahanjana, evidence obtained to date has revealed offences related to a pattern of racketeering activities and money laundering.
The property forfeited to the state under the two orders is:
– The luxury Silver Lakes home
– A Mercedes-Benz Viano
– A Chevrolet Utility 1.4
– Casambo Lodge on Goede Hoop Farm in Mpumalanga
– Stonehenge Ext 1 property in Mbombela, Mpumalanga
– White River Mbombela property
– A Subaru Impreza
– A VW Polo Vivo Blue Line
– A VW Polo Vivo
– A Yamaha Golf Car, and
– A Yamaha Raptor 90 Quad Bike.
She said several companies and individuals also benefitted, along with the implicated woman.
She said the next step would be for the property to be sold on public auction and the proceeds returned to Eskom.
“Criminal investigations are ongoing.”
Mahanjana said the orders are part of the implementation of the unit’s asset recovery strategy to claim the proceeds of corruption for the state.
“The overall national anti-corruption strategy by law enforcement agencies is to strengthen the fight against corruption by pursuing both civil and criminal processes to ensure that impunity is no longer a given,” she said.
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