Bail application for Emfuleni electricity scam suspects resumes
The suspects are facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.
Seven individuals arrested for their involvement in an illegal electricity reconnection scam in the Emfuleni Municipality are set to seek bail at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court in the Vaal on Wednesday. The suspects, accused of fraud, theft, money laundering, and tampering with essential infrastructure, include municipal employees and contractors.
Authorities allege that between February 2024 and June 2026, the group approached disconnected residents and businesses, promising to reconnect their electricity supply for a payment. In doing so, they allegedly defrauded the municipality by reconnecting electricity for complainants whose accounts had been shut by the municipality. The municipality claims to have lost R 8.3 million as a result of the scam.
Lumka Mahanjana, a spokesperson for the Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), stated, "What they will allegedly do is approach those unsuspecting individuals and promise to reconnect their electricity at a cost, so they were defrauding the municipality by reconnecting electricity for complainants whose accounts were shut by the municipality." The investigation into the matter is ongoing, with the possibility of additional arrests if further evidence emerges.
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