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An Eskom contract worker has been sentenced to an effective 20 years’ imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure at the Camden Power Station in Ermelo, Mpumalanga.
Simeon Majaonke Shongwe (46) was sentenced by the Ermelo District Court on Monday, 26 January 2026, following an incident that occurred on 10 November 2022, where damage amounting to more than R22.7 million was caused at the power station.
Shongwe was arrested five days after the incident, and the case was later handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit based in Secunda. Investigators gathered evidence from witnesses and crime scene information, which resulted in a strong case being presented before court.
During sentencing, the court imposed 20 years’ imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure and an additional 15 years for theft. The court ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, meaning Shongwe will serve an effective 20-year prison term.
Mpumalanga Hawks Provincial Head, Major General Nico Gerber, welcomed the sentence, describing sabotage of essential infrastructure as a serious national concern that negatively affects service delivery. He said the conviction should serve as a strong warning to those involved in similar criminal activities.