NPA reveals buyer of stolen R7 million transformer previously involved in fraud matter
Katlego Molepo was denied bail for a second time on Tuesday by the Atteridgeville Magistrates Court, where he faces charges of the theft of critical infrastructure.
Three Tshwane municipality workers accused of stealing a R7 million transformer appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 2 July 2025. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has revealed that the buyer of the R7 million transformer stolen from the Laudium substation was previously involved in a fraud matter of more than R1 million.
Katlego Molepo was denied bail for a second time on Tuesday by the Atteridgeville Magistrate's Court, where he faces charges of theft of critical infrastructure.
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He is accused of buying the transformer from four Tshwane municipal workers, who are also arrested and face the same charge. However, he is the only one who was denied bail.
In court, Molepo fell to the ground, breaking out in a sweat and hyperventilating when the magistrate denied his second attempt to be released on bail.
The State argued that he knew he was buying a stolen transformer because he paid for it with a private account. They opposed his bail and added that this was his second offence.
In a written statement to EWN, the NPA confirmed that from 2020 to 2021, Molepo defrauded the Department of Labour by fraudulently claiming money through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
They added that on separate occasions, he claimed more than R250,000, R1 million, and more than R100,000.
He was sentenced to five years direct imprisonment or a fine of R40,000.