Eskom has been rocked by an alleged job-for-pals scandal.
Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers/FILE
ESKOM has been rocked by an alleged job-for-pals scandal involving an executive in its Human Resource (HR) department and an employee who works in the finance department.
This was after the HR executive Lebogang Letlape and Cathrine Mosotho, who works in finance, allegedly plotted the appointment of Mosotho’s boyfriend who was subsequently appointed as senior manager for operational technology and cyber security at Eskom Distribution.
It has been alleged that Letlape was also part of the interview panel.
The alleged boyfriend, Ezzard de Lange, apparently resigned last week after Eskom launched an investigation into the matter.
The matter was reported by a whistleblower to the utility in March 2023, following De Lange’s appointment.
According to the whistleblower, Mosotho visited Letlape’s home in Pretoria North to discuss the position on January 13, 2023.
The next day Letlape allegedly used the whistleblower's cellphone and sent pictures of questions to Mosotho’s younger sister’s phone.
In an affidavit, that was leaked to Independent Newspapers, the whistleblower said Letlape told him that she used his phone because she did not want her phone to be involved.
Mosotho did not respond to questions and efforts to reach De Lange were unsuccessful.
Eskom confirmed the allegations, adding that the case was reported via email and channeled through to its confidential whistleblowing hotline this month.
The utility said following standard protocol, a case number had been issued and the investigation was still in its initial stages.
“Since the allegations involve Eskom employees, the matter will be handled internally in line with our established procedures. Consequently, we will not share details of the investigation or its outcome, as it concerns internal affairs between Eskom and its employees,” said Eskom.
However, in response to the source on March 4, 2025, the utility’s assurance and forensic department said the allegations were assessed and it was established that it warrants a full forensic investigation.
The forensic team also said the preliminary investigation has been completed and the matter has been outsourced for further investigation.
The department said feedback, for confidentiality purposes, on the outcome of the investigation would only be given to the Group Executive of Eskom’s Distribution.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy, Nonkosi Queenie Mvana, said although she was not aware of the matter, she trusts that proper processes are in place to effectively handle such issues.
Mvana along with other MPs on the committee were recently briefed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on the findings from the ongoing investigations into allegations of corruption, maladministration, and misconduct at Eskom and related entities.
MPs had expressed concern over the systemic failures in procurement processes and conflicts of interest that have been identified, questioning how the SIU planned to ensure accountability among senior management and whether adequate measures were being taken to prevent further misconduct.
The SIU confirmed that while many employees had not completed their declarations of interest, the majority were subject to ongoing investigations. While over 5,000 employees were flagged for not completing these declarations, only a fraction of them had been referred for disciplinary action thus far, said the SIU.
“The committee expressed concerns about the pace of prosecutions and whether the NPA would pursue charges against high-ranking officials, including those who had resigned or left Eskom. The SIU reassured the committee that they are collaborating with the NPA and that no individual, regardless of their status, would be shielded from prosecution if evidence of wrongdoing is found. The committee stressed the need for the restoration of public confidence in Eskom. It also expressed its intention to monitor progress closely and to support the SIU's recommendations for systemic improvements at Eskom,” said Mvana.
Cape Times