Siphiwe Dlamini
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that Michael Lomas, a fugitive wanted in connection with extensive fraud and corruption at Eskom, will be extradited back to South Africa. His involvement in one of the country’s most significant corruption scandals has drawn attention, as it relates to irregularities at the state-owned power utility.
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, provided further details on the matter, confirming that Lomas is expected to land at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning at 9:00 a.m.
“Lomas will arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning at 9am,”
Mathe revealed.
Lomas, a former Eskom employee, is accused of playing a key role in fraudulent activities and corruption related to contracts at Kusile Power Station. The alleged criminal activities, which spanned over a decade from 2008 to 2018, are said to have cost the utility approximately R1.5 billion. The financial strain on Eskom, already under immense pressure to manage the country’s energy crisis, is believed to have been exacerbated by corruption scandals like these.
Authorities arrested Lomas in London in 2021 after an international search and issued an extradition request, which took several years to process. It was only in August 2024 that the courts granted the order to return him to South Africa to face justice.
“An extradition order was granted in August 2024,”
Mathe stated, signifying the end of a prolonged legal battle to bring Lomas back to the country.
Lomas will be accompanied on his flight to South Africa by officials from SAPS Interpol South Africa and will be handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks. This transfer highlights the seriousness of the charges and the coordinated effort by South African law enforcement to ensure accountability in cases of high-level corruption.
The Hawks, a specialized unit within the South African Police Service, have been actively investigating high-profile corruption cases, including those linked to Eskom. Given the immense public interest in how state funds have been mismanaged, Lomas’ extradition marks a significant step forward in tackling corruption at one of the nation’s most critical institutions.
“Lomas will be handed over to the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (known as the Hawks),”
police authorities confirmed, underlining the importance of his return to South Africa.
Michael Lomas’ initial arrest in London, on April 15, 2021, was seen as a breakthrough in the investigation into Eskom’s troubles. At the time, Lomas was granted bail set at £100,000 (equivalent to R1.7 million in April 2021), with the court also requiring an additional surety of £250,000 (approximately R4.3 million).
“It was reported sometime back by Independent Media that Lomas was arrested on 15 April 2021 in London and granted hefty bail of £100,000 (R1.7 million in April 2021),”
Mathe elaborated, further outlining the terms of his release from custody.
In spite of these conditions, Lomas fled to the United Kingdom before facing trial, delaying the judicial process in South Africa. His escape has been a source of frustration for South African authorities who have been working diligently to secure his return.
“He allegedly manipulated contracts and was previously arrested. When he got bail, he fled the country to the United Kingdom,”
Mathe explained, shedding light on the sequence of events that allowed Lomas to evade justice for a time.
As Lomas prepares to face charges in South Africa, his extradition represents a broader commitment by law enforcement to root out corruption, particularly in key state institutions like Eskom. The extradition request was reported by Independent Media in their article UK court grants NPA greenlight to extradite former Eskom contractor wanted in R745m fraud case
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