Female fraudster sentenced to 10 years for stealing R2.6m while working for Eskom

A former Eskom Administration Clerk was found guilty and sentenced in the Mbombela Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday, 3 May. The 40-year-old woman will be imprisoned for 10 years.

MPUMALANGA HAWKS BOSS PRAISES ‘APPROPRIATE SENTENCE,’ SAYS IT WILL DETER OTHERS FROM STEALING FROM ESKOM.

Nwabisa Ngxola was arrested for fraud, corruption and money laundering amounting to R2.6 million. She was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for 16 counts of fraud, seven years for 39 counts of corruption and an additional seven years for 48 counts of money laundering.

“The court ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, therefore Ngxola will serve 10 years direct imprisonment without option of fine,” Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi.

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The conviction and sentence come after a lengthy investigation by the Nelspruit Hawks and Eskom Forensic Investigators.

Mpumalanga Hawks boss Major-General Gerber praised the court for handing the “appropriate sentence” and said it would serve as an example to those who are still pilfering from Eskom.

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CO-ACCUSED MICHAEL CHIMANZI ALREADY SERVED FOUR YEARS IN PRISON, WHILE CINDERELLA MORPANE’S CASE HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

The State alleges Ngxola was working as an admin clerk at Eskom together with her co-accused Cinderella Morpane.

The pair allegedly colluded with Michael Chimanzi, the sole director of Chimanzi Investments, and allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices to the power utility for never rendered services.

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“These fraudulent transactions were channelled to Chimanzi Investment business accounts, which prejudiced Eskom to the amount of R2.6 million,” said the Hawks spokesperson.

Chimanzi was found guilty of fraud, theft and money laundering in the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 March.

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“During the sentencing, the court took into consideration that Chimanzi already served four years imprisonment since his arrest in 2018.

“Furthermore, the accused showed remorse and pleaded guilty from the beginning without wasting state resources.

“Chimanzi, together with his company, was sentenced to eight (8) years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty and convicted for similar offences during the period of suspension,” said the Hawks.

Meanwhile, the case against Moropane was postponed after she was hospitalised due to illness. She is due back in court on 17 May.

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