CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR TEMPERING WITH ESKOM INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEFT OF PREPAID UNITS

EASTERN CAPE – Neliswa Mapekula (63) was convicted and sentenced to 10 years direct imprisonment on 22 February 2021 by the Mount Frere Regional Court on three (3) counts of tempering with Eskom infrastructure and stealing prepaid units amounting to over R189 000.
It is reported that during the period of 07 May 2017 and 10 June 2019, Mapekula allegedly tempered with and destroyed the essential infrastructure of Eskom. The accused further stole the Eskom Prepaid units by disconnecting and making unlawful connections thus using the electricity without paying. The matter was reported to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit of Hawks in Umtata for investigations which led to this conviction and sentencing.
For count 1 and 3, she was sentenced to ten (10) years imprisonment or to pay a fine of R20 000. On count 2, she was sentenced to pay a fine of R1500 or undergo five (5) years imprisonment wholly suspended for two (2) years.
The tireless effort by the team in bringing the perpetrator to justice was lauded by the Provincial Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Obed Ngwenya.