Jinchuan Group International Resources has uncovered an alleged $145 million fraud scheme tied to its copper and cobalt operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jinchuan Group International Resources has uncovered an alleged $145 million fraud scheme tied to its copper and cobalt operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, following an independent investigation that revealed years of questionable procurement transactions, fabricated invoices, and suspicious cash payments.
The investigation focused on the company’s Ruashi Mine operations, where former local employees were accused of exploiting weak internal oversight between 2019 and 2024 to divert company funds through suppliers and intermediaries that investigators said had “no apparent business purpose.”
According to a filing released late Friday, investigators identified approximately $137.4…
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