-
Eskom bursts syndicate ring
- Syndicate specialised in the sale of electricity tokens
- Syndicate cost Eskom millions in losses
The South African utility giant Eskom has arrested members of a syndicate ring specialising in illicit electricity tokens. The syndicate operated in several parts of the country, costing the company millions in losses. Seven suspects between the ages of 28 to 67 were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday in Gauteng by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Hawks. The syndicate employed ghost vending machines that were difficult to track to carry out their crimes.
Speaking on the arrests, Hawks spokesperson Philani Nkwalase said, “The work of the investigating team is commendable. This work is continuing, and the team shall not rest until all the members of this organised criminal group are accounted for”.
Eskom Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andre de Ruyter has commended the Hawks and the Eskom investigation team on the investigation’s success. He said, ”This will help restore confidence in Eskom as we continue to fight the scourge of crime that plagues the institution and the country. This is economic sabotage of the highest degree, and the perpetrators of such crimes must be brought to book and dealt with to the full might of the law. We shall pursue the investigations together with the Hawks to ensure that the entire operations of the syndicate are disrupted”.