Calls on Mayor Karen Bass to testify at an upcoming hearing
WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) Chairman Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) today launched an investigation into waste, fraud, and abuse of federal funds perpetrated by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). In a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Subcommittee Chairman Burchett calls on her testify at a subcommittee hearing on September 15, 2026, and to produce documents and communications related to corrupt contracting and grant-making by LAHSA, as well as its facilitation of self-enrichment among nonprofits to whom it has awarded funds.
“The Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency is investigating potential waste, fraud, and abuse of federal grant funding intended to address homelessness. Specifically, the Subcommittee is concerned about the potential misallocation…
THE TUTUKA POWER STATION PROCUREMENT FRAUD (ESKOM)
Date: August 29, 2025 Perpetrator: Jessie Phindile Kubheka (Supplier Director)
Case Description: As part of the ongoing “cleaning up” of Eskom, Jessie Phindile Kubheka was sentenced to 12 years (with 5 years suspended) for defrauding the Tutuka Power Station. The case involved a sophisticated procurement syndicate that exploited Eskom’s emergency repair protocols. Kubheka’s company was contracted to deliver three high-specification containers for the power station. Only one container was ever delivered, and even that single unit failed to meet the required safety and technical specifications.
Despite the lack of delivery, Kubheka issued grossly inflated invoices, defrauding the utility of approximately R2.6 million. The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court ordered Kubheka to repay the full amount. This case is significant because it marks a shift in Eskom’s strategy toward “naming and shaming” suppliers and pursuing full asset recovery. It serves as a stark warning to contractors that the 2026 climate of “Zero Tolerance” for state-owned enterprise (SOE) fraud is backed by active judicial enforcement.
Link to Original: Eskom Official – Tutuka Fraud Sentencing