The accused appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Monday (31/8), but the matter could not proceed because the recording machine in B Court was not functioning. David Senekal, 31, Caroline Maduna, 39, Kenneth Mahobe, 35, Hlawutelo Baloyi, 29, Pule Masilo, 36, Andries Maduna, 48, and Sibusiso Tshabalala, 46, remain in custody.

Senekal is the son of former FF Plus Emfuleni councillor Gerda Senekal who is also in court facing a charge of alleged fraud related to her academic qualifications. Senekal resigned  from her position and the FF Plus on Thursday (27/8). 

They are employed in the municipality’s electricity and revenue departments and face multiple charges, including fraud, theft, money laundering, and tampering with essential infrastructure.

NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the state was prepared to proceed with the bail application and would strongly oppose the accused being released. “The matter couldn’t proceed because the recording machine has been non-functional.”

“This is frustrating because we were ready to proceed with the bail. We have arranged for the case to move to another courtroom with functioning machinery.

“The magistrate and the prosecutor have agreed that they will prioritise the matter at the next appearance. We will oppose their release on bail. The investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests and charges have not been ruled out.”

The seven were arrested on Friday, 21 August, following an investigation into alleged illegal electricity reconnections. According to the state, between February 2024 and June, the municipality disconnected electricity supplies to businesses and residents whose accounts were in arrears.

The accused allegedly approached some of the affected customers and offered to restore their electricity in exchange for payment. They allegedly manipulated municipal records to make it appear that the customers owed less than the amounts shown on their original bills, then unlawfully reconnected their electricity.

The matter was reported to the municipality by affected customers, prompting an internal investigation and the opening of criminal cases with the police. The accused also face a theft charge relating to the alleged unlawful taking of R150,000.

The charge sheet alleges that in February, a resident, Dalken Beyer, was falsely told that her electricity could be reconnected after she made the payment. The money was allegedly paid into a Capitec Bank account that the accused were not authorised to use for municipal electricity reconnections.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm

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