JOHANNESBURG – Former Eskom contractor Antonio Trindade has been declared medically unfit to stand trial in the R1.4 billion Kusile Power Station corruption case, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) announced on Tuesday.

The Sterkfontein Hospital assessment led to Trindade’s case being separated from his 11 co-accused, IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said. “He underwent a medical assessment to determine his fitness to stand trial,” Mamothame explained.

Trindade will return to court on May 8, 2025, for further medical evaluation. He faces charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering related to the Kusile Power Station upgrade in Mpumalanga between 2014 and 2017.

Among the remaining accused are former Eskom manager Frans Hlakudi and recently extradited UK contractor Michael Lomas. The latter arrived in South Africa in September following his August extradition approval.

Lomas, facing 65 corruption counts, remains in custody after reserving his right to apply for bail. His detention follows an earlier arrest in London on April 15, 2021, where he secured bail of £100,000 with an additional surety of £250,000.

The case centers on alleged corruption during the R1.4 billion upgrade of Mpumalanga’s Kusile Power Station, one of Eskom’s key infrastructure projects aimed at addressing South Africa’s ongoing power crisis.

The trial continues against the remaining defendants, who are currently out on bail, while Lomas is expected to spend the holiday season in detention.