Private security firms step up as cable theft surges in the north
According to security firms in the area, cable theft incidents have more than doubled in the past eight weeks.
Despite several efforts by private security firms and police to combat cable theft, the crime in the north of Pretoria continues to persist.
Over the past two months, security firms including Cobra Tact Ops and ProShield Security recorded a surge in cable theft, particularly in Region 1, wards 4 and 98.
Community leaders have confirmed that the situation is now crippling essential services, shutting down government offices such as Home Affairs and licensing departments, and plunging industrial zones such as Klerksoord into darkness.
While the Tshwane metro faces criticism for a lack of proactive action, private security companies are filling the gap, intensifying patrols, deploying thermal drones, and working with community forums and the police to secure critical infrastructure.
Security providers reported that cable theft incidents have more than doubled in the past eight weeks.
According to Pieter Cornelissen of Cobra Tact Ops security, multiple incidents occur during the early morning hours in quiet, poorly lit streets.
Cornelissen said Wolmer is also under heavy threat and has prompted the security company to double their patrol vehicles and deploy unmarked units to deter criminals.
ProShield Security noted that despite constant patrols, the random nature of the thefts and the vast coverage areas present challenges.
“Almost every night, we respond to reports. In most cases, the cables are already severed.
“While we sometimes interrupt the act, recovery is difficult without immediate community alerts,” shared ProShield.
Cobra Tact Ops has signed a service-level agreement with a drone company and is in the process of training more patrollers to operate drones.
While drone support is currently deployed post-incident, ProShield plans to start proactive drone patrols this month.
“We have the vehicles, trained personnel, and a strong network of informants and monitors.
“Our response times are extremely fast, often within minutes. Unfortunately, cable thieves are getting more sophisticated and street conditions, like tall grass and broken lights, give them cover.”
The cable theft situation has caused widespread inconvenience for residents and left the community vulnerable to frequent power outages.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said police have an infrastructure task team that works with the TMPD and all other role players to combat cable theft.
“Suspects who are found with anything related to cable theft are brought before the court,” said Van Dyk.
While Cobra has not apprehended suspects recently, Proshield said there have been some key arrests, one of which was made thanks to CCTV footage supplied by a vigilant resident.
Both the security companies highlighted a strong collaboration with local Community Policing Forums (CPF), SAPS, and neighbourhood watch groups.
They emphasised that more community involvement is crucial.
“The truth is, we don’t have enough residents as eyes and ears on the streets. And the areas we cover are too vast to protect effectively without that.
“We need to consolidate efforts, share data, and create a united front. Working in silos won’t win this fight,” admitted Cornelissen.
Community leader Dana Wannenburg called on the metro for decisive intervention.
He demanded a dedicated task team to combat cable theft in Region 1, immediate cable replacement, increased TMPD patrols, grass cutting and site clearing, and permanent fencing and surveillance around vulnerable infrastructure.
The Theresapark Substation was recently vandalised when perpetrators stole electricity cables and caused a fire.
The resulting fire led to a prolonged blackout across multiple suburbs, including Heatherdale, Theresa Park, Nina Park, Eldorette, Pretoria North, Florauna, Dorandia, and Tileba.
Wannenburg said that in Clarina, a mini-substation burned out and may need to be replaced.
Ward councillor Quentin Meyer added that a lack of working streetlights is aiding criminals.
He said that when streets are in darkness, cable thieves vanish into the night.
Wannenburg said the ongoing cable theft crisis has reached a critical level, causing prolonged power outages and severe disruptions to service delivery.
He said in March on Willem Cruywagen Road, a five-meter cable was stolen, which led to an unexpected power outage.
“This is unacceptable. The lack of urgency in addressing cable theft is now causing major economic losses, administrative backlogs, and service delivery failures.”
The Tshwane metro acknowledged that the problem of cable theft and infrastructure vandalism remains a pressing challenge, often leading to extended outages.
Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said, “Cable theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure remain one of the challenges the city is battling with, causing frequent and prolonged power failures.”
Tshwane plans to take aggressive measures against electricity theft and meter tampering and warned residents who persist in illegally reconnecting after being cut off by the municipality will face serious repercussions.
This crackdown forms part of the metro’s broader effort to reduce non-technical losses, which have cost Tshwane more than R800-million in the 2023/2024 financial year.
While the figures for 2024/2025 are not yet available due to the financial year still being underway, Mashigo noted that electricity theft damage remains substantial.
He confirmed that as of March 31, the metro had imposed about R100-million in tampering-related fines and recovered R90-million.
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