Eskom has welcomed the convictions of former contractor Michael Lomas and businessman Hudson Kgomoeswana in a corruption case linked to the Kusile Power Station project, describing the outcome as an important step in efforts to hold people accountable for the misuse of public funds.
The power utility announced its response in an official statement dated Friday, 7 August 2026. The development was subsequently reported by the government news service SAnews on Sunday.
Eskom’s statement identifies Lomas and Kgomoeswana as the two people convicted in relation to historical procurement irregularities and corruption at Kusile. It does not specify the precise offences on which each man was convicted, the sentence imposed or whether a recovery order formed part of the outcome. Those details should not be inferred without the court record or a statement from the prosecuting authority.
What Eskom confirmed
Eskom said the convictions followed extensive work involving the utility, law-enforcement agencies and other stakeholders. It characterised the outcome as part of a wider effort to pursue people who unlawfully benefited through the use of public money.
The utility said it participates in coordinated anti-corruption structures including the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, known as NATJOINTS, and the Energy Safety and Security Priority Committee. According to Eskom, these partnerships are intended to improve information-sharing, investigative capacity and coordination between agencies when evidence supports arrests and prosecutions.
Eskom also linked the case to its broader programme of strengthening procurement oversight, governance, internal controls and investigative capability. It said it would continue supporting lawful attempts to recover losses caused by fraud or corruption where recovery is possible.
Background to the Kusile case
An earlier Special Investigating Unit statement, published when Lomas was extradited in September 2024, placed the matter within an investigation involving alleged losses of about R745 million at Kusile.
At that stage, the SIU said the allegations under investigation included fraud, unauthorised rewards, corruption and money laundering. It said the investigation began in 2018 under Proclamation R11 and examined Eskom’s procurement and contracting processes and related payments.
The SIU’s 2024 statement named former Eskom officials Abram Masango and France Hlakudi, contractor Antonio José Trindade and Kgomoeswana as Lomas’s co-accused. Those were allegations at that point in the proceedings. Eskom’s August 2026 statement does not explain the current procedural position of the other people named, and this report makes no finding about their guilt or innocence.
Why the convictions matter
Kusile is a major part of South Africa’s electricity system, while the cost, construction delays and governance failures associated with the project have remained matters of significant public interest. A conviction does not by itself recover losses or repair weaknesses in procurement, but it can establish criminal accountability where a court finds the evidence sufficient.
The outcome also arrives as Eskom argues that its operational recovery is gaining momentum. In separate reporting, the utility said its generation performance had improved. Readers can follow that operational context in EBNewsDaily’s report on Eskom’s latest generation improvements and an earlier update on 441 days without load shedding.
Operational improvements and anti-corruption enforcement are separate tests. Reliability measures whether the power system is functioning; criminal and civil processes determine whether wrongdoing is punished and losses can be recovered. Eskom needs progress on both fronts to rebuild public confidence.
What happens next
Eskom said it would continue taking action against people involved in fraud, corruption or related criminal conduct and would support recovery efforts in accordance with legal processes. The utility’s statement does not provide a timetable for sentencing, further prosecutions or the recovery of money connected to this matter.
EBNewsDaily will update this article when a traceable court judgment, sentencing order, National Prosecuting Authority statement or further official recovery action becomes available. Until then, the confirmed development is limited to Eskom’s identification of Lomas and Kgomoeswana as convicted in the Kusile-linked matter and the utility’s stated intention to keep cooperating with investigators.
Sources
- Eskom: official statement on the Kusile corruption convictions, 7 August 2026
- SAnews: Eskom welcomes Kusile corruption convictions, 9 August 2026
- Special Investigating Unit: Michael Lomas extradition background, 20 September 2024
