Eskom Cracks Down on Coal-Thieves Following Arrest of Truck Drivers Caught Red Handed

• Eskom is cracking down on the theft of coal at its power stations following the arrest of two truck drivers
• The pair were caught red-handed with stolen coal after resisting searches and claiming the trucks were empty
• General manager for security at Eskom Karen Pillay said the power utility loses billions due to coal theft

MPUMALANGA - Eskom plans to ensure that the truck drivers caught red-handed with stolen coal will face the wrath of the law. The arrest has been celebrated by citizens and believe the drivers should be sentenced harshly.

Two people who belong to an ash-transporting company contracted with the power utility were arrested at Kendal Power Station. A criminal case was opened against the drivers at the Ogies police station.

Read also

2 Suspects fatally shot during foiled “flash mob” robbery, police say robbers “met their match”

Eskom said the trucks were stopped to be searched by security officers while exiting the power station. According to TimesLIVE, both drivers resisted the searches and claimed that the trucks were empty.

General manager for security at Eskom Karen Pillay said the power utility loses billions due to the theft of coal, which affects production. She added that several coal stockyards in the province hold stolen coal.

The power utility said the arrests were conducted following excellent work done by security teams and SAPS members.

Previously, News24 reported that Eskom CEO André de Ruyter said the sky-high cost of coal has made it tempting for suppliers to steal, which is then replaced with coal meant to be discarded.

Citizens react to Eskom coal thieves:

Xols Wamakwayi said:

Read also

Police officer drifts car while trying to catch thugs that crashed into wall, SA impressed with driving skills

“Contractors do that all the time. Even with these transformers that “disappears” right after installation are fetched by the very contractors.”

Acona Cooper posted:

“Heavy sentence please because the nation is struggling with load-shedding while they stealing.”

Mark Wren wrote:

“Who within Eskom filled those trucks? Investigate the loaders and the weighbridge personnel. Trucks are weighed on entry and exit for accounting purposes.”

Kgauta Thapelo Lawrence Nyofane commented:

“So this is going to be an excuse for loadshedding.”

Dan Ayanda added:

“Lock them in and destroy the keys.”

Eskom CEO de Ruyer bemoans corrupt suppliers swindling the power utility with bad coal

Briefly News also reported Andre de Ruyter, Eskom’s CEO, says the high demand for coal has made it profitable for corrupt suppliers to cheat the power utility.

The CEO of South Africa’s only power utility claimed that the international demand for coal means that unscrupulous suppliers effectively take the coal meant for Eskom and export it to Europe. The suppliers then replace the “stolen’ coal with discard coal.

Read also

R22 million road in Limpopo starts washing away following heavy rain, citizens angered by poor construction

The waste coal is of low quality, with a Calorific Value (CV) of seven to eight, compared to Eskom’s mandated coal values of 15 to 18 CV.

Source: Briefly News