Hammanskraal - A police officer from Hammanskraal in Gauteng was sentenced to five years imprisonment after being convicted of illegally selling electricity to Eskom customers in Botlokwa, 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.”
Madikologa was sentenced by the Sekgosese Magistrate court in Limpopo last week.
“He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with an option to pay a R30 000 penalty and only serve two and a half years in prison and an additional 5 years suspended sentence.”
Madikologa’s four co-accused were given immunity from prosecution for testifying against him in a Limpopo court. All were arrested in 2013.
Ghost vending is when criminals steal electricity token machines and sell tokens on to power users for their prepaid metres.
“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,” said Maboe Maphaka, Eskom senior manager for energy trading and sales forecasting.
“As a result, Eskom is seeing an increase in revenue from prepaid electricity sales.”
ANA