GAUTENG. – Seven accused who are charged in connection with an alleged multimillion-rand electricity fraud scheme at Emfuleni Local Municipality have been released on bail of R20,000 each on Monday in the Vanderbijlpark magistrate's court. The eighth accused, Janitha Van Reenen Coetzee (25), will have her bail decision on 18 September.
Lumka Mahanjana, NPA spokesperson, says David Seneekal (31), Caroline Smangele Maduna (39), Kenneth Zongezile Mahobe (35), Hlawutelo Baloyi (29), Pule Meshack Masilo (36), Andries Bafana Maduna (48) and Sibusiso Patrick Tshabalala (46) face trial on charges including fraud, theft, money laundering and tampering with essential infrastructure.
The state alleges the accused approached residents and business owners whose electricity had been cut off due to arrears accounts and requested payment to reconnect it. They allegedly unlawfully reconnected the electricity and manipulated municipal records. The accused were taken into custody on 21 August. The state opposed bail, but the court found their release was in the interests of justice.
The accused must report to Vanderbijlpark police station twice a week, may not leave the country and may not interfere with witnesses or the investigation.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
