LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) will require all Summer EBT (SEBT) recipients to reset the PIN numbers associated with their cards in response to reports of thefts of these benefits from out-of-state scammers.
Eligible families should reset their PINs through the EBT call line at 1-800-997-9999 or through the online portal linked at ar.gov/summerebt effective immediately. The cards will not work until this additional step has been completed in order to prevent additional fraudulent activity.
“Stealing benefits meant to feed children during the summer is a despicable and heinous crime, and the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is outraged that some families in our state have been victimized,” said DHS Secretary Janet Mann. “We know that resetting the PIN may present an inconvenience to families, but this is a necessary step to thwart ongoing…
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