Eskom contractor Michael Lomas has been handed a 15-year prison sentence, which is suspended for five years by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday, following a guilty plea to corruption charges linked to R1.4 billion intended for upgrades at the Kusile Power Station.
Court Convictions and Financial Details of the Lomas Case
Lomas was convicted on 34 charges of corruption relating to payments made between February 2015 and April 2017. According to IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame, these charges involved over R2.6 million transferred from Lomas’ personal account into a company owned by a co-accused. Additional charges cover 24 rental payments totaling over R396,000 for an apartment in Midrand that benefited two former senior Eskom employees.
The conditions of the suspended sentence require that Lomas is not convicted of fraud, theft, or contravening the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) during the five-year period. Furthermore, Mamothame stated that Lomas must provide the State with evidence against some of the accused in the main case as part of his plea agreement.
Asset Forfeiture and Sentencing Considerations
In imposing the sentence, Mamothame noted that the court weighed Lomas’ age, health, and remorse alongside aggravating and mitigating circumstances, as well as the interests of the complainant, Eskom Holdings. Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) rejected a proposed R6 million confiscation against Lomas’ asset value. The AFU views that amount as failing to reflect the proportion of money lost to the state through the criminal acts, and further settlement talks between the AFU and Lomas’ attorneys are underway.
Did You Know? The corruption charges against Michael Lomas are directly tied to R1.4 billion that was originally meant for vital upgrades at the Kusile Power Station.
Co-Accused Sentenced and Upcoming Trial Dates
Co-accused Hudson Kgomoeswana also pleaded guilty to one count of corruption under PRECCA, 18 counts of money laundering, and 15 counts of contravening the Tax Act. Mamothame explained that these charges involve over R6 million allegedly paid as gratification to a former Eskom senior employee from the Tubular Group of companies through Babinatlou Business Services, owned by Kgomoeswana. Kgomoeswana reportedly retained R757,000 for allowing his accounts to facilitate the corrupt payments.
Kgomoeswana received a 15-year prison sentence on the corruption and money laundering charges, with 10 years suspended on condition he commits no similar offenses during that period. He also received a five-year sentence for contravening the Tax Act, which will run concurrently. Kgomoeswana agreed to the confiscation of assets valued at over R2.4 million and has provided the state with evidence regarding his participation in the offenses. National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi welcomed the sentence, while the remaining accused individuals, Frans Hlakudi and Abram Masango, are scheduled to return to court for trial on 7 August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific charges did Michael Lomas plead guilty to?
According to IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame, Lomas pleaded guilty to 34 charges of corruption linked to payments made between February 2015 and April 2017.
What are the terms of Michael Lomas’s sentence?
Lomas was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years, provided he is not convicted of fraud, theft, or contravening PRECCA during that time. He is also required to provide the State with evidence against co-accused in the main case.
What happened to co-accused Hudson Kgomoeswana?
Kgomoeswana pleaded guilty to one count of corruption under PRECCA, 18 counts of money laundering, and 15 counts of contravening the Tax Act. He received a 15-year sentence with 10 years suspended, alongside a concurrent five-year sentence for tax violations, and agreed to forfeit assets valued at over R2.4 million.
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