Dissapointed at the lack of Eskom staff assistance

Dear Eskom

Firstly I would like to express my great disappointment of lack of assistance I have received thus far from Eskom staff. Case has been opened at Roodepoort Police Station on Monday 6th July 2020 Case no. 88/7/2020 Station Contact Details: ***

My horror started on the 25th of June when I received an email from a Mandisa Mthetwa from Eskom Procurement requesting if I can supply 350 BRJ6830 Three Phase Smart Meters to Hendrina Power Station. Mandisa sent me the entire RFQ to from “ESKOM” with all the requirements and fine details as well as Terms and Conditions. I phoned Mandisa Mthethwa on the number *** to confirm the enquiry regarding the Meters, she confirmed that 350 meters were needed by Wednesday the 1st of July but I first needed to complete the RFQ to see if I qualify for the tender. I then submitted as Mandisa had answered all my questions and concerns and advised that this is Legit and it is definitely no hoax. After confirmation from Mandisa I phoned around to see which supplier will assist with the meter request and the only supplier who had the BRJ6830 Three Phase Smart Meters was JR Prodigy in Port Elizabeth who I liaised with Patience Khumalo which confirmed that they do stock these Meters and the amount of stock is available.

Mandisa came back and phoned me on Monday morning 29th June 2020 and advised that I was successful and that the tender was submitted to me, the purchase order was emailed to me and Mandisa requested that it must be submitted and that the agreement must be signed and submitted by me and send back to Mandisa that very same Monday afternoon 29th June 2020, which was done as requested.

The supplier JR Prodigy gave me the assurance that they can do deliveries within 24 – 32 hours nationwide, seen that this order was quite urgent for delivery that was expected on Wednesday 1st July 2020 at Hendrina Power station I agreed as they were very much aware and clued up with delivering to Eskom power stations. They also provided on the Meter specification that they deal with Eskom all the time and that it is an approved Eskom specification (which can be seen on the documentation provided). I then proceeded to get a quotation from JR Prodigy which confirmed available stock and total cost of R 322 000.00 for the order and requested 50% deposit for delivery to take place. Once again everything looked legit and they kept in contact with all the time which gave me assurance that all is fine. I proceeded to pay the 50% deposit of R 150 00.00 into the banking details provided which was a Nedbank account (as per docs attached) on the 29th June 2020.

On Wednesday morning 1st July 2020 Mandisa Mthetwa gave me a call extremely excited and advised that delivery was made at Hendrina Power station and that they received the 350 Three Phase Smart Meters in good standing and it is exactly what was requested. Mandisa requested for me to send the Tax Invoice in order for payment to be made to me. During the course of the day Mandisa gave me a call 15:30pm informing me that another 2 suppliers were unable to supply them. One company was suppose to supply 350 Smart Meters and the other company was suppose to supply 400 Smart Meters. Mandisa advised will I be able to supply another batch of meters either the 350 or 400 or possible the full 750 that the other suppliers could not do as this was also very urgent and the latest they needed it to be delivered was for Monday 6th July 2020. Before I could give Mandisa a final answer I told her that I would first need to check with my suppliers if they had the available stock and how much stock. Once again I liaised with Patience Khumalo at JR Prodigy and she advised that they can supply the full 750 Smart Meters. I asked for Patience to get a quote ready in order for me to confirm with Mandisa at Eskom. I contacted Mandisa and advised that I would be able to assist and she was happy as the 1st order was delivered on time in good standing. Mandisa said within 30 minutes she would send me the 2nd purchase order for the 750 Smart Meters which she did and I in turn advised my suppliers and once again a 50% deposit was required. Total amount for Smart Meters with my supplier was R 621 000.00 where I had to pay 50% deposit of R 300 000.00 deposit but I had to pay into another Nedbank Business account which is there George Branch JR Imports(NC MARINA).

On Friday 3rd July 2020 I received a call from Andre Hanekom which is an Operational ***** & Risk Manager – First Rand if I was fami**** with the payments transferred from my Business account to Nedbank accounts. I advised that I was aware as I am supplying for Eskom the amounts were the deposits transferred to my supplier. Andre then advised me that he got a call from the ***** and Risk Manager from Nedbank saying that the account that money was transferred into was newly open and that it did not belong to a company instead it’s a personal bank account. Both deposits that I have transferred has immediately been taken out from both bank accounts that the suppliers have provided to me to transfer the funds into. I have lost in total R 450 000.00 which I don’t even know how I will return the funds back to people I have borrowed from. This has left a very bitter taste in my mouth and egg on my face.

After Andre alerted me, I went and did my own investigation as this now has not sat right with me. I phoned Eskom and asked if they new a Mandisa Mthetwa and provided the telephone number and email which is *** if she indeed works for Eskom. I was advised that there is a Charmaine Mandisa Mthetwa that does work for Eskom in Procurement at Mega Watt Park however the email does not end with .com but ends with .co.za. They gave the real Mandisa’s contact number and I phoned her where she confirmed that she is indeed Charmaine Mandisa Mthetwa and that she does work in Procurement and that I am the 6th person who has fallen victim to this ****. I requested what can be done, where do I stand, who can assist as this is a lot of money that has been lost. Another thing that gets to me is that I am registered on Eskom’s data base for the past 2 years and dealt with Michelle Moodley. So my question is how did the **** Mandisa Mthetwa get me information, contacted me, managed to get everything exactly as per Eskom and now I am left with nothing. This clearly shows that somehow somewhere in Eskom there is a leak, Syndicates are working with people inside of Eskom that is feeding them information, because everything was done to the book, every t crossed every I dotted. Unfortunate part is when we are trapped in the situation, money is being lost and not just small we talking hundreds and thousands almost millions that has gone down the drain and nobody at Eskom has the sense of urgency or remorse, no one is empathetic about the situation and show absolute no signs of help or assistance, hence I started off this email saying how disappointed and disgusted I am.

After I got hold of the Real Mandisa at Mega Watt Park on *** she advised that I must send everything I had to her as she is rushing off to a meeting, to date she has not come back to me to advise that documentation has been received and what actions will be taken. This is the type of behavior that makes one so frustrated and feel hopeless with people that endure tough luck. On Monday 6th July 2020 I went as far as going to Menlyn Offices where the **** Mandisa said she was based at. When I entered the building I spoke to the receptionist who did not even have a clue of what was needed to be done or anything that was going on around her. I asked her if she could confirm Mandisa Mthetwa in Procurment and she couldn’t even do that because the lady that was supposed to work there is not there, she is just standing in for her. I asked if I could speak to somebody in Procurement which was a white lady that I had to talk telephonically with as she refused to meet with me in the lobby, she confirmed that there is no Mandisa working at that office and said I need to report this to Eskom crime line in a don’t care manner, which I also did not approve of as the treatment received was very hostile.

You need to understand, firstly it is a great challenge to try and even get onto the database, it is not easy at all. I have to literally beg and excuse me for saying this but lick and creep ass in order to get anywhere even to start the process of getting onto the database.

I hope this will reach the CEO of Eskom Mr. Andre’ de Ruyter to see the level of staff competency that Eskom currently has and what is actually happening on the ground as I am sure they are not even aware of what us as small companies are trying our level best to make a living and be a part of South Africa’s economy. Somehow this needs to come to an end where innocent people are being ****med and being ********** financially where you are left with nothing. It is already so hard as it is to even get business from Eskom, actually truth be told Eskom has never even made any attempt to grant business so when getting this email from Eskom was also mind blowing because after being 2 years on your system this was the 1st communication which I thought was Eskom.

I am definitely not leaving this here and taking it further even if it means to the Office of the President.

Enzo Tune ***