The community and private security companies are fighting back against cable theft, which remains rife in the east of Pretoria.

Two suspects were arrested in separate incidents of cable theft and damage to government infrastructure.

The arrests follow swift responses by private security teams, working alongside vigilant community members.

Bull Security spokesperson French Jooste said on April 14, at around 14:00, information was received via a community WhatsApp group about a suspect cutting electrical cables near the Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve.

“Tactical and armed response units responded swiftly. As officers approached the scene, the suspect spotted the units and fled on foot but was pursued and apprehended near the reserve,” he said.

Jooste added that officers discovered freshly dug holes and stolen cable at the scene, confirming ongoing cable theft and malicious damage to government infrastructure.

“The suspect was handed over to Garsfontein SAPS, where he was formally arrested,” he said.

In a separate incident on April 11 at 01:16, a control centre received reports of a suspect cutting electrical cables near the Rietvlei Nature Reserve on Delmas Road.

Multiple response units were dispatched, and upon arrival, officers spotted the suspect attempting to flee.

“After a brief foot chase, the individual was apprehended and handed over to Lyttelton SAPS for arrest,” Jooste said.

He commended both the security teams and the community for their role in the arrests.

“These incidents highlight the importance of swift, co-ordinated responses and the role that vigilant residents play in combating crime. Cable theft remains a serious threat to critical infrastructure, but we will continue to act decisively. Criminal activity will not be tolerated in our area,” he said.

Residents have been urged to remain alert and report suspicious activity, as cable theft continues to disrupt essential services and pose safety risks.

Meanwhile, the Tshwane metro has warned that ongoing theft and vandalism of underground cables along Delmas Road are damaging the integrity of the electricity network.

The city said the increasing number of cable joints caused by repeated repairs makes the system more vulnerable to failure, particularly during rainy seasons.

Cable theft in the area has persisted for years, costing the metro millions of rands.

In the 2023/24 financial year alone, 41 theft incidents were reported, with repair costs amounting to R3.6-million.

This figure has since escalated, with more than R6-million spent during the 2024/25 financial year to repair medium-voltage cables along Delmas Road.

To address the issue, the city has applied to the Provincial Roads Department for approval to convert the existing underground cable network into an aluminium overhead line system in this high-risk theft area.

The proposed project will be rolled out in two phases.

The first phase will cover about 2.5km from the corner of Delmas and Dam roads. The second phase, which depends on budget approval, will extend a further 1.7km from a distribution box near the Rietvlei Nature Reserve that supplies power to boreholes.

Ward 91 councillor Henning Viljoen previously said cable theft remains a major concern, affecting both electricity and water supply systems.

He explained that while efforts have been made to secure infrastructure, such as placing rocks and cement barriers along the reserve fence, criminals continue to exploit unprotected areas.

Viljoen added that theft of medium-voltage cables has a ripple effect, as these lines supply low-voltage networks that power boreholes within the reserve, further threatening essential services in the area.

By the time of publication, the police had not responded to media enquiries.

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