Pretoria - A Hammanskraal police officer has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for illegally selling prepaid electricity to Eskom customers in Limpopo, Eskom said on Tuesday.
“The accused, Sello Fanie Madikologa, was charged with the illegal distribution of ghost vending electricity tokens, electricity theft and fraudulent activities that led to revenue loss to Eskom,” explained the power utility.
He was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option to pay a R30 000 penalty and only serve two and a half years in prison and an additional five years suspended sentence.
His four co-accused, who were local ghost vending runners, turned state witness in exchange for witness immunity from prosecution.
Maboe Maphaka, Eskom’s senior manager in energy trading and sales forecasting said through Operation Khanyisa, Eskom’s electricity theft fighting campaign, significant strides have been made.
“The campaign, with support from law enforcement agencies, is closing in on these criminals and curbing the spread of the selling and buying of illegal electricity vouchers in the Limpopo province. As a result, Eskom is seeing an increase in revenue from prepaid electricity sales.”
Eskom loses approximately R4.7 billion in revenue due to electricity theft. - SAnews.gov.za
