An Eskom employee has been sentenced for his role in stealing hydraulic fluid from the Tutuka Power Station last year. Katlego Twala appeared in the Standerton Regional Court on Tuesday, where he received a one-year suspended sentence.
Twala was linked to the theft of five drums of oil from Tutuka in October 2022. As a result, he was sentenced to one year in prison or an R10,000 fine, wholly suspended for five years.
Eskom said it has taken a “zero-tolerance stance” on dishonest acts by employees. “We view the conduct of the employee as unacceptable,” the utility stated. “We will continue working on flushing out the minority that cast a shadow on the organisation.”
By handing down a sentence, Eskom hopes to send a strong message about stopping oil thefts and other fraudulent behaviour among staff. While most employees are law-abiding, the utility said even isolated incidents need punishment when uncovered. The sentence shows Eskom aims to remove any elements engaged in illegal activity at its plants.
