The Middleburg Hawks and Eskom’s security team have nabbed a truck driver after he allegedly stole a truckload of coal, sold it, and then filled his vehicle with stones and discarded coal that he attempted to deliver to Arnot Power Station.
Eskom said in a statement on Tuesday that its group security investigations tactical team had spotted the truck, that was loaded with coal to be delivered to the power station, when it entered a coal yard in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.
“The truck left the coal yard after about an hour and the members followed it as it then drove to Arnot Power Station. On arrival at Arnot Power Station, the truck joined the queue to offload coal,” Eskom said.
“The Eskom group security investigations team checked and discovered that the coal due to be offloaded was indeed discarded coal containing stones which confirmed the suspected coal swapping, witnessed earlier at the Middleburg coal yard.”
Security officers questioned the truck driver who allegedly confessed that he had sold the coal for R6 000. The coal had been loaded onto his vehicle at a mine in eMakhazeni (formerly Belfast) and was supposed to be delivered to Arnot Power Station.
SAPS members of the Middleburg Hawks unit arrested the driver and are busy with further criminal investigations supported by Eskom’s security unit.
Eskom Security acting general manager, Botse Sikhwitshi, commended the team for its work.
“We commend the group security investigations unit and the Middelburg Hawks team for working tirelessly together in bringing coal thieves to book. There is tangible evidence to ensure successful prosecution of the suspect,” Sikhwitshi said.
“The delivery of poor-quality coal often leads to unit breakdowns and cannot be tolerated. We hope the perpetrator, once convicted, faces the harshest possible sentence which shall serve as a deterrent to others,” he added.
Eskom said it will continue to work with the police to ensure that illegal coal yards are shut down.
Members of the public are urged to report information regarding illegal electricity sales, fraud, the theft of coal, fuel oil and diesel, and all other electricity-related crimes to the Eskom Crime Line: 0800 11 27 22. Reporting can be done anonymously.
