The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga has clarified that the suspect arrested for alleged sabotage at Eskom's Camden power station remains behind bars.
Eskom erroneously reported on Tuesday the suspect had been granted bail.
#CamdenSabotage Update
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) November 22, 2022
The accused, Thapelo Mnisi, a 27yr male from Witbank appeared before the Magistrates Court on a charge of contravening sections of the South African Explosive Act 15 of 2003
The accused was granted bail and the matter has been postponed to January 2023
NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa on Wednesday identified the suspect as 43-year-old Simon Majonke Shongwe, who was an Eskom subcontractor.
Nyuswa said Shongwe appeared in the Ermelo magistrate's court on charges relating to tampering with essential infrastructure.
"On November 10 unit 4 at Camden power station tripped, increasing load-shedding. On investigation, it was found that someone [removed] bearing drain plugs [from] the main bearing at the unit [resulting] in the shaft overheating and tripping the generator. The entity suffered a loss of more than R1m. Eskom’s investigation led to the arrest of the accused, hence his appearance in court.
"The case against Shongwe was postponed to Thursday for a formal bail application. He is remanded.”
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• This story has been amended to reflect that the Camden suspect has not been released on bail as previously stated by Eskom.
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