Nine people were arrested at Eskom's Kusile power station for coal theft and fraud on Thursday. In a statement, the struggling power utility said eight weighbridge operators employed by Eskom Rotek Industries and a coal truck driver after a thorough investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and its own internal probe.

According to Eskom, investigators received information that coal haulers would bypass Kusile power station without offloading the ordered coal. It's alleged that the weighbridge operators would then process transactions without the coal being offloaded at the power station. Kusile power station would, however, be invoiced for the coal ordered yet not received. Eskom said the suspects were detained at the Phola police station and will be charged and appear in court soon. The struggling power utility said that more arrests would follow as the investigations continue. "The theft of coal is a highly organised criminal activity, and the syndicates involved are being enriched through the proceeds derived from the illicit trade of the stolen products," Eskom said in a statement.

Eskom said it continued to lose money due to the misappropriation and adulteration of the critical commodity. Eskom acting general manager for security Botse Sikhwitshi said the arrest of the "unscrupulous individuals' is a significant step in their fight against crime in Eskom and the country. "We shall continue in our pursuit to ensure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law," said Sikhwitshi. Eskom said it will continue working with the police and the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure the suspects are successfully prosecuted.