Infrastructure theft continues to place a significant financial and operational burden on City Power, costing the utility millions of rand each month while contributing to prolonged outages across the city.
According to a spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, cable theft and related crimes result in losses of about R25m every month. The utility said this figure represents only a portion of the overall impact as additional costs are incurred through emergency repairs, security operations and the replacement of damaged infrastructure.

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Mangena highlighted that during the 2024/2025 financial year alone, City Power spent more than R300m repairing damage caused by cable theft and vandalism of underground infrastructure. “A further R100m was allocated specifically towards security measures aimed at protecting critical electricity infrastructure. The financial burden is compounded by the high cost of replacing damaged equipment.”

Combating the ongoing problem

He added that replacing a single transformer substation unit can cost between R691 000 and R793 000 for smaller units, while larger units can cost between R821 000 and R946 000. “To combat this ongoing problem, we have strengthened our security operations through internal security teams and contracted private security providers. These teams conduct tactical sweeps of underground tunnels and cable ducts, provide armed escorts for technicians working in high-risk areas and assist with criminal investigations linked to infrastructure theft.”

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The utility has also begun replacing copper cables with aluminium and other lower-value materials to reduce the incentive for theft. Mangena believes the strategy will help reduce incidents that have historically resulted in extensive service disruptions and financial losses.

Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe said infrastructure theft remains one of the most damaging challenges facing communities in her ward, particularly in Sophiatown. She noted that infrastructure is often targeted repeatedly, sometimes shortly after repairs have been completed, further delaying restoration efforts and increasing pressure on already strained resources.
“Sophiatown is unfortunately viewed as a hotspot for illegal connections, which complicates restoration processes because City Power often requires audits and verification before power can safely be restored,” she added.

Fourie-Shawe said theft and vandalism have become major contributors to network instability and prolonged power outages, affecting residents, businesses and essential services across the city.
City Power continues to urge residents to report suspicious activity around substations, cables and other electricity infrastructure as part of ongoing efforts to curb theft and protect the city’s power network.

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