Mother and son, Rabela Sara Jones (71) and Godfrey Jason Jones (46) appeared before the Hendrina Magistrate Court alongside Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi (42), former employee of Eskom who was arrested on Wednesday, 15 March 2023 and remanded in custody for Eskom fraud.
Their appearance followed after they were arrested by the Hawks’ Middelburg based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team together with Eskom Forensic Investigators on the same day, facing charges of Theft, Fraud and Money Laundering.
It is alleged that Eskom advertised a tender for supply and delivery of pumps at Arnot power station during 2015. Engel Frost Investment was appointed or awarded the tender while assisted by Eskom employee Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi. The company submitted documents which were fraudulent. Furthermore, Nkosi mislead the financial section of Eskom to approve an upfront payment of R14 million to Engel Frost Investment, while in true fact it was false.
Eskom paid R14 million rand to the company but it did not deliver the pumps instead they disappeared. An intensive investigation was conducted by Eskom Forensic Investigators concerning money which was stolen. After they uncovered the shenanigans, the fraud case was opened and referred to the Middelburg based Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further exploration.
During their probe it was discovered that during March to April 2013, Nkosi who was employed by Eskom at Arnot Power station as a Senior Buyer allegedly colluded with his accomplices, a director of Angel Frost Investment (PTY) LTD Rabela Sara Jones (71) and her two sons, Godfrey Jason Jones (46) and the other one who is on the run. The accused acting in concert, defrauded Eskom amount of R14 736 882-00.
It is further alleged that the two sons were appointed as signatories in the company.
The three appeared in Hendrina Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 22 March 2023. Thandeka Innocentia Nkosi and Godfrey Jason Jones (46) were granted R100 000-00 bail each while Rabela Sara Jones (71) was granted R30 000-00 with the reasons that she is old and chronic. Their case was postponed to 5 May 2023 for tracing of the fourth accused who failed to appear in court despite being informed.
A warrant of arrest was issued against him. Investigation continues.
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