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Inside Eskom’s dodgy R21bn diesel contract

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · · 5453 words · By Susan Comrie; Sam Sole
Corporate Governance and Corruption Eskom Operational Failures Public Procurement Irregularities
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What to know about Corporate Governance and Corruption

In 2024, Minenhle Mavuso (24) was living two separate lives.

Claims checked 25
Techniques found 3
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

In 2024, Minenhle Mavuso (24) was living two separate lives.

Why it matters

In one, the BA psychology graduate ran an online wig store – “Milo Hair Beauté” – where a super double drawn bob would set you back R1,180.

Common ground

In the other, she ran Severino Industries, a company that was bidding for a R21-billion contract to supply diesel to Eskom’s Ankerlig power station.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-10-inside-eskoms-tainted-r21bn-d…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence
Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 25 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 15
info Single Source 6
check_circle Corroborated 2
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
info
Claim 1: “the company’s Zimbabwean-born founder, Nigel Nenji, resigned, leaving Mavuso as the sole director.”
SINGLE SOURCE
No evidence found regarding Nigel Nenji's resignation or his role as founder of Severino Industries.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — View mutual connections with Minenhle Mavuso (FCG). Minenhle Mavuso (FCG) can introduce you to 4 people at Enterprise iLembe Economic Development Agency. Email or phone.
https://za.linkedin.com/in/minenhle-mavuso-fcg-mbacg-pgdba-p…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Allegri's haunting Miserere is famous for both its ethereal beauty and for the mystery surrounding its composition. It is written for 2 choirs, who alternate...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3v9unphfi0
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Simple and secure sign-in, without passwords. Passkeys offer the simplest, most secure sign-in using your device’s screen lock, so signing in is as easy as glancing at your phone or scanning your fing…
https://safety.google/safety/authentication/
schedule
Claim 2: “Eskom needed to buy 10 million litres of diesel from Astron Energy”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 3: “Mavuso had been appointed as a director in December 2023”
SINGLE SOURCE
Search results show profiles for Minenhle Mavuso but do not mention her appointment as a director of Severino Industries in December 2023.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — View mutual connections with Minenhle Mavuso (FCG). Minenhle Mavuso (FCG) can introduce you to 4 people at Enterprise iLembe Economic Development Agency.
https://za.linkedin.com/in/minenhle-mavuso-fcg-mbacg-pgdba-p…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Dr Mavuso Msimang. Lead independent non-executive director. Appointed: March 25, 2011.Mavuso is the immediate-past chairman of Corruption Watch and is a public commentator on good governance, and agai…
https://www.harmony.co.za/about/board/mavuso-msimang/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Click to Follow mavuso_minenhle. Minenhle_Mavuso. Now that I think of it, trying to hold back tears in public is an extreme sport. 1. Minenhle_Mavuso.
https://twitter.com/mavuso_minenhle
schedule
Claim 4: “African Forwarding and Shipping (AFS), is a fuel importer and member of the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 5: “Alto Mboweni, had briefly been appointed as a director [of Severino Industries]”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 6: “Nutinox ... won a questionable R263-million contract to supply water tankers to Johannesburg Water.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
help
Claim 7: “bidders were required to keep at least five million litres of diesel (worth around R100-million) in storage and would have to wait for 60 days to be paid.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence found in the provided search results regarding the specific storage requirements (5 million litres) or payment terms (60 days).
schedule
Claim 8: “In 2017 its sole director, Lwazi Mtshali, signed a contract on behalf of Lanele Resources’s holding company, Lanele Group, to develop a parcel of land, owned by Transnet’s property division”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 9: “Shell, Engen and the state-owned petroleum company PetroSA were amongst the 24 bidders that lost out on the contract.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 10: “Severino signed a contract to provide Eskom with roughly R4-billion worth of diesel over the next five years.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One source confirms Severino Industries was awarded a contract to supply and store diesel, but the specific value of R4-billion over five years is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, though the company's inclusion is confirmed.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — “The five companies awarded the contract to supply and store diesel for Eskom are Astron Energy, Lanele Group, African Shipping and Forwarding, Nutinox, and Severino Industries.”
https://thebulrushes.com/2026/04/22/eskom-fraud-spotlight-on…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — This equates to over R1 billion of diesel spend per month over 5 years. The table below provides a breakdown of Eskom’s diesel spend for each of the last 5 financial years
https://www.da.org.za/2024/04/eskom-burns-r65-billion-worth-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 6 billion diesel expenditure as a costly cover-up for the ongoing electricity crisis, claiming that government assurances of ending load shedding are deceptive and fail to address the real issues.
https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/actionsa-slams-eskoms-r3…
info
Claim 11: “Eskom advertised the five-year contract in October 2023”
SINGLE SOURCE
General information about Eskom is available, but no specific evidence confirms the advertisement of a diesel contract in October 2023.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Eskom Hld SOC Ltd or Eskom is a South African electricity public utility. Eskom was established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) (Afrikaans: Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie (EV…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskom
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · Eskom generates electricity by transforming inputs from the natural environment – coal, water, wind, nuclear and liquid fuels.
https://www.eskom.co.za/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Explore Exciting Job Opportunities | Eskom Careers Discover your dream job at Eskom! Browse our latest job openings and explore a wide range of career opportunities. Apply today and join our talented …
https://eskomcareers.ci.hr/applicant/index.php?controller=Pa…
schedule
Claim 12: “Nutinox had a fuel wholesale licence and a turnover of R24-million in 2023.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 13: “Eskom released a curt statement confirming that its newly established Group Investigations and Security Department was investigating “possible irregularities relating to the procurement of diesel fuel and storage contracts”.”
CORROBORATED
Eskom's own communication confirms the consolidation of forensic, security, and investigative functions into the 'Group Investigations and Security Division'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) is a diesel fuel with substantially lowered sulfur contents. As of 2016, almost all of the petroleum-based diesel fuel available in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuel
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — To strengthen governance and enhance our investigative capabilities, Eskom has consolidated its forensic, security, and investigative functions into the newly formed Group Investigations and Security …
https://www.eskom.co.za/eskoms-ongoing-collaboration-with-la…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Eskom primarily uses diesel to run its OCGTs, such as Ankerlig in the Western Cape, to smooth out supply and limit the extent of potential load-shedding.It is now a fuel storage and import terminal.
https://dailyinvestor.com/energy/131754/one-south-african-co…
info
Claim 14: “In 2024, Minenhle Mavuso (24) ... ran an online wig store – “Milo Hair Beauté””
SINGLE SOURCE
Web search results mention a Minenhle Mavuso on LinkedIn and general information about buying wigs online, but no evidence confirms she ran a store called 'Milo Hair Beauté'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — View Minenhle Mavuso’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members. The Most Overlooked Skill in Troubleshooting Here’s a skill no one talks about, but it can be a game-changer …
https://za.linkedin.com/in/minenhle-mavuso-3b5bb5177
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Looking for a human hair wig shop near me? Up to 85% off. Nadula is a good selection of 100 real virgin hair wigs and afro wigs for women online.
https://www.nadula.com/wigs.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — People wear wigs for various reasons, for example, to cover up hair loss, to change their styles, to address other hair problems, etc. If you are buying a wig for the first time, you might be wonderin…
https://www.unice.com/blog/buy-wigs-online-vs-in-store/
info
Claim 15: “On 30 December 2024, Eskom sent a letter ... “The successful suppliers are: African Forwarding and Shipping, Astron Energy, Lanele Resources, Nutinox, Severino Industries,””
SINGLE SOURCE
While the specific letter date of Dec 30, 2024, is not in the snippets, one source corroborates that Severino Industries, Astron Energy, Lanele Group, African Shipping and Forwarding, and Nutinox were the companies awarded the contract.
check_circle
Claim 16: “she ran Severino Industries, a company that was bidding for a R21-billion contract to supply diesel to Eskom’s Ankerlig power station.”
CORROBORATED
One web search result explicitly lists Severino Industries as one of the five companies awarded the contract to supply and store diesel for Eskom.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Severino signed with the Yankees as an international free agent in 2011, and made his MLB debut in 2015. After a rough 2016 season, he broke out as one of the league's best pitchers in 2017, being nam…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Severino
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Feb 20, 1994 · Check out the latest Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More of Luis Severino. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and mor…
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/severlu01.shtml
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — View the profile of Athletics Starting Pitcher Luis Severino on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33263/luis-severino
verified
Claim 17: “Ankerlig is one of Eskom’s Open Cycle Gas Turbines, located on the outskirts of Cape Town.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other web sources confirm Ankerlig Power Station is a gas turbine power plant (OCGT) located in the Western Cape/outskirts of Cape Town.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ankerlig Power Station (previously known as the Atlantis OCGT power station) is one of five gas turbine power plants in South Africa and has the capacity to produce 1338 megawatts. The plant name is d…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankerlig_Power_Station
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Eskom Hld SOC Ltd or Eskom is a South African electricity public utility. Eskom was established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) (Afrikaans: Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie (EV…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskom
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — South Africa produced around 245,000 GWh of electricity in 2021. Most of this electricity is produced using coal and is consumed domestically. In 2022, 12,300 GWh were exported to Eswatini, Botswana, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_Sout…
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 18: “On 1 January 2025 an urgent situation arose for Ankerlig Power Station”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 19: “Transnet and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) were accusing Lanele and Mtshali of being involved in a scheme to bribe Transnet officials”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 20: “between February and July 2025, Eskom made at least 18 payments labelled “downpayments” to: Nutinox, worth R295-million, Lanele, worth R1.297-billion, And Severino, worth R1.374-billion.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 21: “Ankerlig was burning through on average 50 million litres of diesel a month (roughly R1-billion) from December 2024 to April 2025.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 22: “Severino Industries ... had been in business since 2016 and secured a fuel wholesale licence a year later”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 23: “Lanele Group ... received R85-million from Transnet to pay for site infrastructure for a proposed R2-billion fuel storage depot.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 24: “PetroSA was only level 9 [B-BBEE] at the time.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 25: “Astron Energy, is a local refiner.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.