KEY POINTS
-
Johannesburg faces a 40% year-on-year rise in service cable thefts, forcing residents to pay up to R18,000 for replacements under City Power’s liability policy.
-
Soaring copper prices and lax scrap metal regulations drive the crisis, with criminals exploiting load-shedding blackouts to target infrastructure.
-
Community groups and proposed traceable cable systems offer partial solutions, but critics demand stronger municipal accountability and enforcement.
Johannesburg residents are grappling with unexpected financial burdens and prolonged power outages as thefts of critical service cables surge across the city.
City Power, the municipal electricity utility, has confirmed it will not cover replacement costs for stolen cables linking homes and businesses to its grid, leaving homeowners to shoulder repair expenses that can exceed R15,000.
The cables, which run from utility poles to property boundaries, have become prime targets for criminals seeking copper and aluminum to sell on illegal markets.
“This cable delivers electricity from the grid directly into the property. Without it, homes are effectively disconnected,” said City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena. Over 1,200 service cable theft incidents were reported in Johannesburg between January and April 2025—a 40% increase compared to the same period last year—according to data from the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to The Citizen, the spike has left neighborhoods like Sandton, Randburg, and Alexandra in recurring darkness, with some households waiting weeks for repairs.
Economic crisis and illegal scrap trade fuel cable heists
Experts link the thefts to South Africa’s worsening economic climate and a thriving underground scrap metal industry. Copper prices have surged to $9,800 per ton globally, incentivizing thefts that cost the country’s economy an estimated R47 billion annually. “Criminals strip cables within minutes, often during load-shedding blackouts when surveillance is low,” said security analyst Thando Nkosi.
City Power’s policy, which deems the service cable the homeowner’s responsibility once it crosses their property line, has sparked outrage. “Why must I pay for City Power’s failure to secure public infrastructure?” fumed Alexandra resident Nomthandazo Mkhize, who paid R18,000 to replace a stolen cable.
The utility has urged residents to hire accredited electricians for replacements, citing safety risks from substandard installations.
However, many low-income households cannot afford the costs. Community organizations like the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee have begun pooling resources to assist vulnerable residents. “We’re training volunteers to install basic cables, but it’s a stopgap solution,” said committee head Sipho Dlamini.
Meanwhile, City Power faces criticism for delayed responses to outages. Mangena acknowledged the strain, stating, “Cable thefts divert crews from routine maintenance, worsening backlogs.”
Authorities are exploring countermeasures, including marking cable with traceable chemicals and tightening scrap metal regulations. A 2024 law requiring scrap dealers to document sellers’ identities has seen limited enforcement. “Without accountability, these thefts will persist,” warned Nkosi.
