WATCH: South Africa grapples with escalating Cable theft Crisis

Johannesburg, April 28, 2025 — South Africa is facing a surge in cable theft, a crime wave that is crippling critical infrastructure, disrupting services, and costing the economy billions of rand annually. The theft of copper cables, driven by high global demand for the metal, has led to widespread power outages, halted train services, and compromised telecommunications, affecting millions of citizens.

The economic toll is staggering. According to a study by Genesis Analytics, commissioned by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, cable theft costs South Africa an estimated R45 billion ($3.8 billion) each year. This figure reflects direct losses from stolen materials, repair costs, and broader economic disruptions. In Cape Town alone, local authorities report weekly damages exceeding R1.5 million due to copper theft.

Recent incidents highlight the severity of the problem. In Johannesburg, City Power reported a backlog of over 6,000 outage calls in March 2025, with cable theft and vandalism exacerbating power interruptions caused by heavy rains and flooding. Similarly, in Villiersdorp, Western Cape, at least ten major cable theft incidents since August 2024 have left the town and surrounding farms without electricity for extended periods, including a 48-hour blackout in September. Residents have petitioned for provincial and national intervention to address the crisis.

Transnet, South Africa’s state-run logistics company, has been particularly hard-hit. Copper cable theft has disrupted rail operations, contributing to delays and reduced reliability. In response, Transnet is exploring satellite technology to enhance security and reduce maintenance costs, though implementation remains in early stages.

Law enforcement efforts have yielded mixed results. In April 2025, the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested nine suspects in Limpopo for possession of stolen copper cables during Operation Vala Umgodi. In Tshwane, a joint operation by the Cable Theft Unit and SAPS foiled an attempt to steal transformers worth R35 million in November 2024, with a municipal employee among those arrested. Despite these successes, the scale of the problem continues to overwhelm authorities. Organised crime syndicates, often involved in the illicit scrap metal trade, are believed to be driving much of the theft, with stolen copper frequently laundered through unregulated markets.

The government’s attempts to curb the crisis have so far been inadequate. A ban on scrap metal exports, introduced to reduce the outflow of stolen copper, has failed to stem the tide. Critics argue that weak enforcement and corruption within the scrap metal industry allow the trade to persist. Meanwhile, communities are taking matters into their own hands. In Laudium, Tshwane, residents thwarted a transformer theft in November 2024, leading to arrests, but such vigilantism carries risks and underscores the desperation felt by affected communities.

The impact on daily life is profound. Hospitals have been forced to suspend services, clinics rely on nurses’ personal mobile data to access patient records during outages, and businesses face mounting losses. In Villiersdorp, a youth training centre reported disruptions to its programs due to repeated power cuts, limiting opportunities for young people.

WATCH: Cable thief gets confronted.

As South Africa struggles to address this crisis, experts warn that without stronger enforcement, technological innovation, and international cooperation to regulate the global copper trade, the theft epidemic will continue to undermine the nation’s infrastructure and economic stability. For now, communities and authorities remain on high alert, battling a relentless foe in the shadows of the nation’s power lines.