SIU freezes R76.5 million assets in Eskom-linked corruption case: What it means and what to do if you’re affected

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has frozen assets worth R76.5 million linked to an Eskom-related corruption investigation, including 17 properties and seven luxury vehicles connected to businessman Siyabonga Moses Goodwill Nkosi and associated trusts.

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The preservation order, granted by the Special Tribunal, means the assets cannot be sold, transferred or hidden while investigations continue. The SIU is now moving to recover public funds and may take the matter further within 60 days.

According to the SIU, the investigation found that between 2021 and 2023, Eskom officials at Kusile and Matla power stations approved inflated and irregular purchase orders for relays — equipment used to keep power stations running. Instead of proper delivery, invoices were submitted and approved at prices far above market value.

The SIU says this led to a direct financial loss of R73,650,994.87 to Eskom. It also alleges procurement processes were manipulated, including splitting orders to avoid oversight and uploading false part numbers to restrict competition.

The frozen assets include high-value properties in provinces such as Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, as well as luxury vehicles including Lamborghinis and Porsche models. These assets are believed to have been funded through proceeds from the alleged corruption.

This has not been confirmed in a criminal court.

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For now, the order is civil — meaning it focuses on preserving and potentially recovering funds. Any criminal charges would be handled separately by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) if evidence is referred.

For readers in the Eastern Cape, including Pondoland, this case matters because Eskom losses directly affect electricity reliability and public finances. Money lost through corruption reduces resources available for maintenance, infrastructure and service delivery — issues that already impact rural communities.

Report it to the SIU
You can submit information directly to the SIU through official reporting channels. Provide as much detail as possible, including names, dates and documents if available.

Contact Eskom fraud hotline
Eskom has internal reporting systems for fraud and corruption linked to its operations.

Keep records
If you are a contractor, worker or whistleblower, keep copies of invoices, emails or payment records. These may be needed as evidence.

Seek legal advice if affected
If your business or employment is impacted by investigations, consult a legal professional to understand your rights.

Avoid participating in irregular deals
Even small procurement shortcuts can expose individuals to legal risk.

The SIU says it is authorised to institute civil proceedings to recover losses and may approach the Special Tribunal to set aside irregular contracts. It can also refer evidence of criminal conduct to the NPA.

For now, the focus is on recovering funds and preventing further losses.

Local impact is not yet clear.

What happens next will depend on whether the SIU successfully proves its case in the Special Tribunal and whether criminal prosecutions follow.

We will update this story as more details become available.