By 
BLOEMFONTEIN – A former employee of municipal power utility Centlec has been arrested following a daring, unauthorized entry into a substation that left a construction worker severely injured and infrastructure damaged.
The suspect, identified as Tshehla Mokhatla, was apprehended by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Sunday, 24 May 2026. The arrest follows an incident on 18 May at the Reahola Shopping Complex, where Centlec technicians had previously locked and secured the substation after investigating a power failure.
According to authorities, Centlec staff had explicitly instructed the complex caretaker that no repairs could begin until a designated contractor was issued an official work permit and cleared under strict safety protocols. Despite being explicitly reminded of these regulations by the caretaker, Mokhatla allegedly used keys still in his possession to bypass security and access the high-voltage facility alongside a subcontractor.
While unauthorized work was being conducted inside, an employee from Squoters Construction suffered severe electrical burn injuries to his left hand. The victim was rushed to Pelenomi Hospital, where he remains under medical treatment.
Centlec investigators noted that as a former employee, Mokhatla possessed “comprehensive knowledge” of the mandatory safety procedures he chose to ignore. The illegal tampering also caused an estimated R25,000.00 in damage to a Centlec monoblock.
Mokhatla faces criminal charges related to tampering with essential infrastructure. He is expected to appear in court within 48 hours. Centlec has strongly condemned the breach, reiterating that its safety protocols exist strictly to safeguard lives and critical public infrastructure.
