Three accused, Dibuseng Business Enterprise, Mtau Dony Mmathinyane (31), sole director and Maphoto Manape Sylvane Mokgadi (55), appeared before the Middelburg Regional Court on Wednesday, 06 December 2023, after they were arrested by the Hawks Middelburg Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on the same day for fraud and theft.
The arrest followed after the accused colluded together with a common purpose to defraud Eskom. It is alleged that during 2017, Arnot Power Station issued an order to DLC 56 project for the purchase and delivery of valves. The company purchased and delivered the valves to Arnot Power Station. In early 2020, Arnot Power Station issued another order for the purchase and delivery of valves to Arnot Power Station. The above valves are only manufactured by Billfinger Intervalves as per the specification of Eskom. Late in 2020, Tutuka power station issued an order to Dibuseng Business Enterprise for purchase and delivery of valves. Dibuseng Business Enterprise delivered valves to Tutuka power station, and payment was made to an amount of R 1 039 116.85.
The site manager of Tutuka Power Station inspected the valves and noted that the valves are not according to their purchase order (specification). He contacted Dibuseng Business Enterprise to find out what happened with the supply of incorrect valves. The sole director, Mtau Dony responded that he would come back to him for clarity, but he failed to do so. The manager with the knowledge that Billfinger is the only manufacturer of these valves, contacted them to enquire why they sold incorrect valves to Dibuseng Business Enterprise, only to find out that Dibuseng business enterprise only did a quotation with them and they never sold any valves to them.
Investigation was conducted by forensic investigators, where it was discovered that the valves delivered by Dibuseng Business Enterprise are the same valves that were delivered by DLC 56 project and Grant connection during 2017 and 2020, at Arnot Power Station. Arnot Power Station confirmed that those valves were stolen from them during the year 2020.
The matter was referred to the Hawks for further investigation. During investigation, it was discovered that the delivery documents submitted by Dibuseng Business Enterprise were the same documents/certificates issued by Billfinger to the two companies. Dibuseng Business Enterprises fraudulently changed the name of those suppliers to his own business name. During further investigation, they noted that on the documents there was information of accused 3 as the person who assisted Dibuseng Business Enterprise to be in possession of the stolen valves. On the basis that Eskom purchased the same valves twice, it had an actual loss of R 1 039 116.85.
The trio appeared before the Middelburg Regional Court on Wednesday, 06 December 2023. Accused 2, Mtau Dony Mmathinyane, was granted R 20 000 and accused 3, Maphoto Manape Sylvane Mokgadi was granted R 10 000 bail on condition that they must report at their nearest police station every second sunday of the month. The case was postponed to 20 February 2024 for first appearance at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
