The SA Police Service has arrested a 27-year-old male over a bomb threat received by Eskom group chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer in May.
The threat was made from an unknown cellphone number.
It was also established that the suspect had used an unregistered sim card to send the threatening message.
On Friday morning, the Hawks and contracted investigators from Bidvest Protea Coin traced and arrested the suspect - and they believe they have overwhelming evidence linking him to the crime. He was arrested in the Vosman area at eMalahleni, Mpumalanga and remains in custody ahead of his court appearance next week.
“The targeting of Eskom executives and employees who are focused and hard at work during these difficult times is very disturbing. Such acts of criminality are malicious and Eskom takes them seriously,” said Advocate Karen Pillay, general manager of security at Eskom. “The nature and level of threats demands that they focus on their personal safety and that of their families instead, distracting them from the critical task their jobs demand of them.”
Advocate Pillay said other Eskom executives had also been targeted in recent months. “Safety and security risks inadvertently impose increased demands on the organisation to secure its resources.”
Eskom has said it will provide the required support to the SAPS to help ensure the suspect is successfully prosecuted and that a stiff sanction is meted out, as a favourable outcome will serve to deter other would-be offenders.
