Emfuleni employees’ bail hearing postponed after court equipment failure

The bail application of seven Emfuleni Local Municipality employees has been postponed to Wednesday after recording equipment at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court failed.

The seven accused remained in custody after Monday’s hearing could not proceed. The matter is expected to move to a regional court on 2 September.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana told SABC News that the state had been ready to proceed and would oppose bail when the application resumes.

The employees face charges of fraud, theft, money laundering and tampering with essential infrastructure. The charges relate to an alleged scheme involving illegal electricity reconnections in Emfuleni.

State alleges payments for reconnections

Prosecutors allege that residents and businesses whose electricity had been disconnected were offered reconnections in exchange for payments. The allegations have not yet been tested at trial, and the accused have not been convicted.

The seven were arrested in August and first appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on 24 August. The case was then postponed for a formal bail application.

Sedibeng Ster reported from court that proceedings were halted because the stenotype machine in the courtroom was not working. The publication said the accused would remain behind bars pending Wednesday’s appearance.

The state previously indicated that it expected additional charges as the investigation continued.

The court is yet to determine whether any of the accused should be released on bail. Their continued detention follows from the postponement and is not a finding on the charges against them.