“Eskom 3” Farmers Granted Bail in Randfontein Electricity Theft Case

Four accused — three farmers and an employee of Eskom — have been granted bail in connection with an alleged electricity theft case currently before the Randfontein Magistrate Court.

Johan Niemand, who handed himself over to authorities on Friday, 13 February 2026, was granted bail of R20 000 on 16 February 2026.

Farmer Riaan Hoeksma and Farmer Gregory Wicks were also arrested in connection with the matter. Wicks was arrested on Saturday, 14 February 2026, for his alleged involvement with Hoeksma.

The Eskom employee, Harry Ngwenya, was arrested for his alleged role in facilitating or enabling the illegal electricity activities. Hoeksma, Wicks, and Ngwenya appeared in court on 17 February 2026 and were each granted bail of R10 000.

The matter has been postponed for further investigation and legal proceedings.

The arrests form part of Eskom Gauteng’s targeted operations aimed at curbing electricity theft and protecting the integrity of the national power network.

On 9 February 2026, Eskom confirmed the arrest of two farmers in Randfontein as part of its broader campaign to clamp down on illegal electricity activities that continue to strain South Africa’s already pressured energy system.

In the first case, a farmer was arrested after allegedly reconnecting electricity illegally following disconnection due to non-payment. The outstanding account reportedly amounted to approximately R1.1 million. Eskom officials further cited meter tampering and the bypassing of infrastructure to consume electricity unlawfully. The utility maintains that such actions constitute criminal offences and undermine fairness among paying customers.

In a separate case, a second farmer was arrested after Eskom teams discovered an illegally connected transformer on the property. While the farm was registered for a 25kVA transformer, investigators allegedly found a 100kVA transformer connected to the network without approval.

Eskom has described the installation of unapproved high-capacity transformers as a serious violation of safety standards and electricity regulations. Unauthorized upgrades can place significant strain on local infrastructure and potentially disrupt supply stability for neighbouring farms and rural businesses.

During the same operation, Eskom teams visited a third farm where a transformer was removed after a tampered meter was identified. The owner was not present at the time and no arrest was made. Investigations in that matter remain ongoing, and further action may follow.

Eskom continues to work with law enforcement agencies to address electricity theft, which the utility says contributes to financial losses, infrastructure damage, and safety risks including fires and electrocution. The Randfontein case remains before the court.