South Africa: Update - Eskom Admits to R3-Billion in Payments 'Outside of Contractual Terms'

What the report says

South Africa’s power utility Eskom said it completed an 18-month review of diesel contracts worth R21-billion and acknowledged making about R3-billion in payments outside contractual terms. In the statement released late on 27 August 2026, the company described the transactions as “advanced payments” rather than the prepayments alleged in earlier reporting, but said the money went to three suppliers between January and April 2025.

According to Eskom, the payments were made during a period of renewed load shedding, when the utility said it faced urgent pressure to keep the grid stable and maintain electricity supply. CEO Dan Marokane said operational pressure did not remove the need to follow internal controls and governance rules. Eskom also said that while it had used prepayments for diesel in the past, any such approach still required proper approval and prompt ratification if done in advance.

The disclosure is significant because it adds detail to concerns about how Eskom managed emergency fuel spending during supply stress. The company said the review did not amount to a full and frank disclosure, according to the reporting cited by Daily Maverick and distributed by AllAfrica. The case will likely remain important for public accountability around procurement, governance and the utility’s response to power shortages.