Former Eskom employee and three others convicted in multi-million -rand fraud and money laundering case
Former Eskom employee and five individuals, together with three companies convicted, following a multi-million-rand investigation involving fraud and money laundering.
The accused appeared before the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court (SCCC) in Mpumalanga on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, where judgment was delivered in a case investigated by the Hawks’ Secunda Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCI) in collaboration with the Priority Crime Management Centre (PCMC), Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
According topolice reports the investigation revealed that, between October 2016 and May 2019, Nozipho Ntuli (39), a former Eskom buyer, allegedly abused her position by fraudulently awarding tenders to companies linked to people close to her.
Evidence presented before the court established that Phoenix Motion Enterprise, Hustle Hard Development and Itireleng Masheleng allegedly benefited fraudulently from Eskom contracts.
Phoenix Motion Enterprise was directed by Edward George Sekatane (46), who was in a relationship with Ntuli. Evidence further indicated that Sekatane continued running the company while he was incarcerated.
The investigation also established links between the other companies and Sekatane. Thulani Harries Mahlalela (43) was a director of Hustle Hard Development, while Alfred Lebogang Sekatane (62) was identified as Edward Sekatane’s uncle.
The companies allegedly benefited from Eskom as follows:
Phoenix Motion Enterprise: R5,380,646.00
Hustle Hard Development: R2,231,380.00
Itireleng Masheleng: R913,712.00
The total financial loss suffered by Eskom as a result of the fraudulent transactions amounted to R8,525,738.00.
The court found Ntuli guilty of fraud. Edward George Sekatane, Thulani Harries Mahlalela, Alfred Lebogang Sekatane and their companies, Phoenix Motion Enterprise, Hustle Hard Development and Itireleng Masheleng, were found guilty of offences in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA) relating to money laundering.
The court postponed the matter to 19 October 2026 for sentencing and for the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) to pursue an application for a restraint order.
- Alfred Lebogang Sekatane (62), Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), Edward George Sekatane (46), Eskom, fraud, Hawks’ Secunda Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCI), Hustle Hard Development, Itireleng Masheleng, MDNTV, Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court (SCCC), Money laundering, mpumalanga, multi-million-rand investigation, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Nozipho Ntuli (39), Phoenix Motion Enterprise, Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), Priority Crime Management Centre (PCMC), Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI), Thulani Harries Mahlalela (43)
