By Thys Khiba – South African Police Service (SAPS) officials have arrested on Monday, two security guards, employed by a company contracted by Eskom to protect the Port Rex power station in East London for allegedly stealing almost 6 000 litres of diesel.
🟥JUST IN🟥 Eskom Contracted security guards arrested for stealing diesel at Port Rex Power Station in East London pic.twitter.com/vvwT31uP3s
— Central News (@fscentralnews) November 29, 2022
“Through internal investigations, it was established that the…security guards permitted a vehicle to collect the stolen diesel from the site during the nights shifts, and for which they were paid in return,” said Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.
The arrest took place while the suspects, who are accused of stealing diesel valued under R146 000, were on duty.
Cooling towers at a coal-based power station owned by state power utility Eskom in Duhva, South Africa, February 18, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings
In a joint operation by the Bidvest Protea Coin Investigation Team and SAPS, internal investigations assisted the team to apprehend the alleged responsible guards a few days after Eskom laid criminal charges for the theft of diesel.
“Appalling that individuals entrusted with the responsibilities of safeguarding our infrastructure resort to such acts of malfeasance,” said Eskom General Manager for security Karen Pillay.
She described the arrest as “another significant step in our fight against crime in Eskom.”
The power utility indicated that investigations are ongoing to identify other suspects, and the outcome will determine further actions to be taken against the contracted security company.
The two arrested suspects are expected to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court this morning.
Meanwhile, a truck driver was arrested, earlier this month at Eskom’s Camden station in Mpumalanga for allegedly tampering with coal.
On 15 November a contractor working at Camden power station was arrested in connection with an incident of sabotage.
Eskom has promised to provide the required support to the authorities to ensure that the suspects are successfully prosecuted and that the “maximum permissible sanction is meted out.”
CENTRAL NEWS
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