FREE STATE – Sibusiso Alfred Migal (33), Sipho Joseph Mdlalose (38), Phindile Florence Mdlalose (28), Donald Vusumuzi Rammusi (32) and Magala Petros Mohapi (42), as well as Victor Mdlalose (67) appeared before the Fochville Magistrate Court Friday, 02 July 2021. They were arrested on Wednesday, 09 June 2021 by a multidisciplinary team that swooped on various premises in Gauteng. The joint team traced and disrupted the criminal network responsible for large-scale pre-paid electricity fraud and theft.

Their arrests was effected during the first phase of the project driven investigation carried out by the Free State Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in concert with Eskom Investigators, Hawks Digital Forensic Investigation (DFI), Tactical Response Team (TRT), Public Order Policing (POP) as well as Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC).

The project driven investigation ensued in May 2020 in Bloemfontein, Free State probing the illicit sale of electricity facilitated by illegal vendors who have in their possession illegal electricity vending machines. Ghost vending involves the illegal sales and purchases of electricity.

The accused were granted bail as follows Maqala Petros Mohapi and Sipho Joseph Mdlalose on R100 000-00 bail each. Sibusiso Alfred Migal, Phindile Florence Mdlalose, Donald Vusumuzi Rammusi, each granted R30 000-00 and Victor Mdlalose released on warning. The case against the accused has been postpone to Friday, 29 October 2021 for further investigation.

Source: South African Police Service