Former Eskom Safety Officer Convicted of Corruption and Fraud

Thandi Ruth Magagula, a 41-year-old former safety risk officer at Eskom, has been convicted by the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on multiple counts of corruption and fraud. Magagula pleaded guilty to seven charges of corruption and two charges of fraud under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

The charges relate to contracts worth over R58,000 that were awarded to Mantoza Engineering Projects CC, a company where Magagula was a director, during her employment at Eskom between April 2015 and the time of her dismissal. She failed to disclose her financial interest in the company to Eskom management, in violation of both public official regulations and Eskom’s conflict of interest policies.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga, represented by spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, confirmed the conviction, stating that Magagula’s admissions of guilt corroborated the charges against her. The NPA views the conviction as a significant step in combating corruption within public entities, particularly in critical sectors like Eskom.

Sentencing proceedings are set for October 24.