The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) has arrested five employees of the Emfuleni Local Municipality in connection with allegations of fraud, theft and tampering with essential infrastructure.
The five suspects are expected to make their first court appearance on Monday, August 24.
The arrests followed a takedown operation conducted in Vanderbijlpark on Friday. The suspects are attached to the municipality’s revenue and electrical departments.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the employees allegedly misrepresented themselves to municipal clients as authorised officials who could reconnect electricity supplies that had been cut off.
Clients were reportedly instructed to pay money into the suspects’ personal bank accounts in exchange for illegal reconnections.
The suspects are further accused of illegally reconnecting electricity without municipal authorisation, resulting in illegal usage and financial losses to the municipality.
The PKTT said the investigation remained ongoing and further arrests were anticipated.
The PKTT said it was committed to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure accountability for officials who abused their positions for personal gain.
- The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) arrested five Emfuleni Local Municipality employees on allegations of fraud, theft, and tampering with infrastructure.
- The suspects, attached to the municipality’s revenue and electrical departments, are expected to appear in court on August 24.
- The arrests followed a takedown operation in Vanderbijlpark conducted on Friday.
- Investigations revealed the employees posed as authorised officials to reconnect electricity for clients who paid into their personal bank accounts.
- The illegal reconnections caused financial losses to the municipality, and the PKTT said further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the employees allegedly misrepresented themselves to municipal clients as authorised officials who could reconnect electricity supplies that had been cut off.
Clients were reportedly instructed to pay money into the suspects’ personal bank accounts in exchange for illegal reconnections.
