Former Eskom employee sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment over R1.8 million fraudulent invoice scheme
A former Eskom employee, Cinderella Thabisile Muropane, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment over a R1.8 million fraudulent invoice scheme.
The case dates back to 2013, when Muropane was employed by Eskom at its Nelspruit offices in Mpumalanga.
Mandla Lines, owned by David Mthetwa, had been contracted by Eskom on a live-work basis from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.
However, the company’s last legitimate work order for the South African power utility was issued on 2 May 2012.
Thereafter, Mandla Lines performed no further work for Eskom. It was, instead, carried out by a different contractor.
Despite this, fraudulent invoices were generated in the name of Mandla Lines from Eskom’s Nelspruit offices.
The fraudulent invoices resulted in payments being processed into the company’s bank account for work it had not performed.
The fraudulent transactions ultimately caused Eskom to suffer a financial loss of approximately R1.8 million.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) in Middelburg launched an investigation into the scheme.
This investigation resulted in Muropane’s conviction on 96 counts of fraud and a 10-year prison sentence imposed by the Nelspruit court on 2 October 2026.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, welcomed the sentence.
He said that the outcome demonstrated the consequences awaiting individuals who abuse positions of trust to facilitate the unlawful loss of public funds.
“Public money is not a personal purse, and positions of trust must never be turned into platforms for fraud,” Gerber said.
“It demonstrates that the Hawks will relentlessly pursue those who manipulate systems, falsify transactions and unlawfully divert public resources.”
He added that fraud involving public institutions undermines public confidence and diverts resources intended to serve communities.
“The message from the Hawks is clear: abusing a position of trust to steal or facilitate the unlawful diversion of public funds carries serious consequences,” he said.
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The small boys and girls get the sentencing, yet the big fish, like malema, lamola, mbalula, live in luxury. This is nothing but a distraction. Sibiya (r@pist, child m0lester and trafficker), malema, cyril, zuma etc. Sentence them, not a token Eskom employee. The anc think we are stupid. Until the big boys pay for what they have done, this matters none. Even Cat is going to take the fall, yet the ones who used him sit in a jacuzzi sipping Johnny Blue. Shabir Shaik is proof of this. malema got convicted, yet lives a life of opulence, thanks to VBS looting. When does he go to jail? Just appeal, this is how the elite, black demons survive. God is not a fool, the “leaders” (demons) of this country are.