COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) — Four South Carolina residents face federal charges after a grand jury returned a 13-count indictment accusing them of participating in a wire fraud conspiracy that used bleached currency loaded onto Cash App accounts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment charges:
- Octiva Rasheem Moorer, 28, of Orangeburg, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud, one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
- Brittney Kay Pringle, 38, of Summerville, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. Pringle was an employee with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services at the time of the alleged conduct.
- Amy Chavis, 34, of Marion, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and four…
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