WATCH | Broken court equipment delays bail bid by seven Emfuleni employees
The bail hearing of seven Emfuleni Local Municipality employees accused of fraud has been postponed after a recording machine at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court failed to work.
The matter was postponed to 2 September.
The accused 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.
They face charges of fraud, theft, money laundering and tampering with essential infrastructure.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleges that between February 2024 and June 2026, the employees targeted businesses and residents whose electricity had been disconnected over unpaid bills.
They allegedly offered to reconnect the electricity in exchange for money and then manipulated municipal records to show that the customers owed less than they actually did.
The customers later reported the alleged fraud to the municipality, which conducted an internal investigation before involving the police. The seven were arrested on 21 August.
News24 understands the arrests are linked to cases opened by slain Emfuleni whistleblower Martha Mani Rantsofu.
NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the State had a strong case and would oppose bail.
She said investigations were continuing and more arrests had not been ruled out.
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