Seven accused in Emfuleni electricity fraud case granted R20 000 bail each

Seven people accused of being involved in a multimillion-rand electricity fraud scheme targeting Emfuleni Local Municipality have been granted R20 000 bail each.

The Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court granted bail to the accused on Monday, despite the State opposing their release.

The accused face charges including fraud, theft of electricity worth about R9.9 million, a further R150 000 in fraud and theft, money laundering and tampering with essential infrastructure.

The seven are 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.

The National Prosecuting Authority alleges that between February 2024 and June 2026, the accused targeted businesses and residents whose electricity had been disconnected by Emfuleni because of outstanding municipal accounts.

They allegedly offered to have the electricity restored in exchange for payments.

The accused allegedly then unlawfully reconnected the electricity and manipulated municipal records to show that consumers owed reduced amounts.

According to the NPA, the affected consumers’ accounts later reverted to their original outstanding balances, while their electricity supplies remained connected through the alleged illegal reconnections.

The matter was reported to the municipality by affected consumers before an internal investigation led to the case being referred to the police.

The seven accused were arrested on 21 August.

As part of their bail conditions, they must report twice a week at Vanderbijlpark Police Station, surrender their passports and may not leave the country. They are also prohibited from interfering with witnesses or the investigation.

The case was postponed to 18 September for the bail judgment of the eighth accused, Janitha Van Reenen Coetzee.