Police have arrested an eighth suspect believed to be the alleged mastermind behind a syndicate accused of illegally connecting electricity and stealing critical infrastructure at the Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng.
The suspect, alleged fraudster Janitha van Reenen-Coetzee, was arrested by the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on Thursday, shortly after she was released on R10,000 bail in an unrelated fraud case involving Emfuleni Municipality.
Her arrest came as the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court postponed her fraud case to September 21, 2026.
Van Reenen-Coetzee is expected to make her first appearance in court on Monday, September 7, on charges including theft, damage to and theft of critical infrastructure, and money laundering.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), she is believed to have played a central role in an alleged criminal network involved in illegal electricity connections and the theft of municipal infrastructure.
The latest arrest brings the number of suspects arrested in connection with the investigation to eight.
The case against Van Reenen-Coetzee has attracted further attention because she is already facing allegations of fraud involving approximately R400,000 to R424,000 linked to Emfuleni Local Municipality.
She allegedly posed as an independent agent who could assist residents to settle outstanding municipal accounts at discounted rates.
Residents allegedly paid her money to settle their municipal arrears, but the funds were reportedly not paid over to the municipality.
Van Reenen-Coetzee was initially arrested on May 20, 2026. Earlier reports indicated that she was denied bail twice in the magistrate’s court before approaching the High Court in a bid to secure her release.
Her fraud case remains before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court and is due to return on September 21.
The case has also been linked in public attention to the murder of Emfuleni municipal finance officer Martha Mani Rantsofu, who was shot dead in Vanderbijlpark on March 30, 2026. A video showing her alleged assassination went viral across various social media platforms.
Rantsofu had reportedly raised concerns about suspicious claims before her death.
The PKTT is investigating Rantsofu’s murder. However, Van Reenen-Coetzee has not been publicly charged with Rantsofu’s killing.
Reports have previously indicated that Van Reenen-Coetzee told police she could identify people responsible for Rantsofu’s murder, while the slain official’s family has called on her to disclose what she knows.
Her latest arrest is separate from the murder investigation and relates to the alleged illegal electricity connection and critical infrastructure theft syndicate.
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said investigations were continuing as police worked to uncover the structure and reach of the alleged network.
The charges of theft and damage to critical infrastructure are significant because electricity infrastructure is essential to service delivery and the functioning of communities and businesses.
Illegal electricity connections can also damage municipal networks, contribute to outages and create serious safety risks.
The money laundering charge indicates that investigators are also probing the alleged movement or handling of money linked to the criminal activities.
Police are now working to identify other people allegedly involved in the network and determine the roles played by those already arrested.
Authorities have not disclosed the full details of the alleged electricity syndicate or the extent of the infrastructure losses.
Van Reenen-Coetzee has not yet pleaded to the latest charges and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
SAPS said the investigation remains ongoing and further arrests are possible.
“Police investigations are continuing, with authorities working to identify and apprehend all those involved in the illegal electricity connection network,” the police said.
Van Reenen-Coetzee is expected back in court on September 7 for her first appearance on the latest charges, while her separate Emfuleni fraud case is scheduled to return to the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on September 21.
The developments place renewed focus on allegations of criminal networks exploiting municipal systems, while investigators continue probing the circumstances surrounding Rantsofu’s death and the alleged corruption affecting Emfuleni.
