The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) has confirmed the arrest of two additional Emfuleni Local Municipality employees over an alleged scheme to illegally reconnect electricity supplies in exchange for payments made directly into their bank accounts, bringing the number of arrests to seven.

The arrests relate to a case involving alleged fraud, theft and tampering with essential infrastructure at the municipality.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the two suspects were arrested on Sunday morning, during an operation in Vanderbijlpark.

“Both suspects are employees attached to the municipality’s Revenue and Electricity Department.”

The arrest of the two suspects brings the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the investigation to seven.

All seven suspects are expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Earlier, IOL reported that the PKTT had arrested five Emfuleni Local Municipality employees in connection with allegations of fraud, theft and tampering with essential infrastructure.

The arrests followed a takedown operation in Vanderbijlpark on Friday.

Mathe said the arrested suspects were employees of the Emfuleni Local Municipality attached to the Revenue and Electricity departments.

“Preliminary investigations have established that the suspects allegedly operated a scheme in which they misrepresented themselves to municipal clients as duly authorised officials who could reconnect electricity supplies that had been disconnected by the municipality.”

Clients were allegedly instructed to pay varying amounts directly into the suspects’ bank accounts in exchange for the illegal reconnection of electricity, she said.

“The suspects are further alleged to have unlawfully reconnected electricity supplies without the authorisation of the municipality, resulting in the illegal use of electricity and financial losses to the municipality.”

Mathe said the Gauteng PKTT would continue working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that those who abuse their positions for personal financial gain are held accountable.

“The investigation remains ongoing, and further arrests are anticipated,” Mathe said.

Source: IOL