These are the areas with the most cable theft

2 min read

Cable theft has been a major issue in South Africa since the early 2000s with reports estimating that tens of millions are lost every year as a result. According to Openserve, data gathered shows that there are more than 800 cable theft hotspots in the country. We will only be singling out the few with significantly higher theft figures than the nation’s average.

Mulbarton

Cable theft has resulted in more than 28 power outages from January to August 2021 in the area. This has caused community members to become more and more impatient with Johannesburg City Power, going as far as forming a petition to get them to act in a swifter manner. City Power pleads with members of the Mulbarton community not to take matters into their own hands as the theft is being carried out by heavily armed aggressive gangs. They continue to reassure the community that they are working with SAPS, JMPD and other organisations such as private security and neighbourhood watch to curb cable theft in the area.

Roodepoort

Roodepoort has long been a cable theft hotspot with reports coming in every other month. As a by-product of cable theft, power outages tend to occur in Roodepoort and stretch as far as Florida. Johannesburg City Power estimates that each cable theft incident costs them R1m. Other hotspots in Johannesburg include Florida, Soweto, and Springs.

Delmas

In August 2021, 26 people were arrested in Delmas for cable theft. They were found to be in possession of 105 rolls of copper cables, which were stolen from Delmas Colliery, alongside two vehicles which were believed to be used in the crimes. In the same month, 16 arrests were made by Hawks after raiding scrap metal yards which were found in possession of stolen copper cables. Other areas in Mpumalanga include the Nkomazi Local Municipality which is said to be “plagued by cable theft” as municipal employees are said to have been tortured by armed robbers during cable theft activities.

Other parts of the country

Hotspots in Cape Town include Kromboom Parkway, Beacon Valley, Belhar, Manenberg, Khayelitsha and Woodstock. Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says that it costs the city R2 million a week to fix streetlights alone due to cable theft.

Richmond in Kwazulu-Natal, where Eskom has asked for the help of the community to fight against cable theft.

Mabopane, Winterveldt, Soshanguve, Olivenhoutbosch, Mamelodi, Ga-Rankuwa and Slovo in Pretoria where up to 24 000 people could be left in the dark at any given time due to cable theft.

Brits where copper cables worth R10 million were found in 2020, with 2 suspects being arrested.

East London where ongoing power cuts are experienced due to constant cable theft and vandalism.

Welkom, Odendaalsrus, Virginia and Bethlehem where the costs of incidents between May and October 2021 have totalled between R10 million and R20 million according to Stefanie Jansen van Rensburg, Eskom’s spokesperson in the Free State.

What do you think of the cable theft in these areas? Are there any cable theft ridden areas you know of that I've left out? Share your thoughts by replying to this email!

For more information on cable theft, or any other energy related articles, stay subscribed and be sure to open my weekly emails every Tuesday at 9am CAT.

Load shedding is currently suspended.

Get your load shedding schedules here: Municipal Loadshedding schedules - Distribution (eskom.co.za)

Latest fuel prices: Fuel Pricing - AA

Air pollution study - 2 780 deaths every year: (69) Study Air pollution causes 2,780 deaths per year in Mass. - YouTube

Using solar to roast green chilli: (69) Solar power used to roast green chile - YouTube

Using solar to produce jet fuel: (69) Scientists make jet fuel from sun, water and CO2 - YouTube