Eskom contractor gets jail time over R6,000 bribe

Eskom has welcomed the sentencing of Selby Magagula, an Eskom Rotek Industries sub-contractor at Camden Power Station, to four years in prison.

Magagula was convicted on two counts of bribery and corruption by the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court and sentenced to four years of direct imprisonment, running concurrently.

In a statement on Monday, 2 September 2024, Eskom said Magagula had accused a truck driver of delivering coal mixed with rocks while on duty on duty at the Camden Power Station coal stockyard.

He showed the truck driver three pieces of rock that he claimed were in the load of coal and threatened to halt deliveries while the driver had three trucks in the queue behind him.

Upon speaking to the driver’s supervisor, Magagula solicited a bribe of R6,000 — R2,000 per truck — to allow them to offload.

“Despite the supervisor not agreeing to his demands, the trucks were eventually allowed to offload the coal,” said Eskom.

“This conversation was recorded by the truck’s fleet vehicle camera system.”

His conviction follows an investigation by Eskom’s Security Investigations team, which began on 3 October 2023.

“An internal Eskom investigation confirmed that Mr Magagula had indeed solicited a bribe from the hauler and his supervisor,” said Eskom.

It added that, contrary to Magagula’s claims, the coal delivery met Eskom’s specifications. He was arrested on 11 October 2023.

“The conviction of the suspect is a positive step in our continuous efforts to fight crime, fraud, and corruption, and to maintain the highest standards of integrity within the organisation,” said acting general manager for security at Eskom, Botse Sikhwitshi.