Johannesburg – City Power has scored several successes in its fight against cable theft, which involves raiding scrapyards and arresting suspects, including staff members and foreign nationals.
Commenting on Friday, (7 March 2925), on efforts to stop cable theft, City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said she welcomes the latest raids on scrap metal yards south of Johannesburg.
Her remarks follow a major joint operation on Thursday, (6 March 2025), involving City Power, in collaboration with SA Police Service (SAPS), Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and private security, raided scrapyards in Regents Park and Southrand.
SAPS and JMPD Officers seized 28.2kg of stolen cables – 17kg of stripped copper and 11.2kg of aluminium.
The evidence has been booked at Moffatview Police Station.
“The message is simple: we are coming for you,” warned City Power CEO Mashava.
“Scrap metal dealers who continue to buy stolen infrastructure are not only creating a market for these stolen goods but are active players in the theft of electricity which creates unimaginable suffering for our residents.
“They are crippling the City’s power supply, destroying businesses, and holding communities hostage, out of greed.
“This criminal behavior must never go unpunished.”
Mashava said the aggressive approach, which has led to a sharp rise in arrests and prosecutions, is a direct result of City Power’s turnaround strategy on security, spearheaded by the CEO.
“We have moved beyond just putting more boots on the ground.
“We are using advanced intelligence, surveillance technology, and real-time data to track down these criminals and their enablers,” Mashava said.
“And we are doing it with the full backing of SAPS, JMPD, and private security partners.”
The crackdown is yielding results.
On the same day as the scrapyard raids, three suspects – a Mozambican and two Zimbabwean nationals – were caught illegally connecting electricity at the corner of Church and Park Streets in Turffontein.
SAPS Flying Squad officers arrested them on-site, and they are now in custody at Booysens Police Station.
Mashava said City Power was also rooting out corruption within its own supply chain.
“On 5 March 2025, 31-year-old Phenious Seroka, an employee of a City Power contractor, was arrested at Selby Substation with 1.2 metres of 185MV copper cable,” the City Power CEO revealed.
The employee claimed he “found” the cable while clearing a transformer site, but security personnel saw through his lies.
He was handed over to Central Police Station.
“It is disgraceful that the very people hired to maintain and protect our infrastructure are the ones stealing from it,” said Mashava.
“Contractors found employing criminals will face serious consequences, including being blacklisted.”
Mashava also gave details of other successes in catching the cable theft culprits and bringing them before the courts.
In another arrest on 5 March 2025, 32-year-old Sifiso Innocent Tembe was also nabbed along the M1/M2 highway in Naturena with 15kg of stolen unskinned copper cables.
Mondeor SAPS confirmed the stolen materials were City Power’s 185MV underground cable, critical for powering Mini-Sub electrical boxes, RMUs, and homes.
Mashava said City Power’s relentless pursuit of criminals was also paying off in the courts.
On 26 February 2025, the Randburg Magistrate’s Court sentenced 39-year-old Cry Moja to 10 years in prison, with five years suspended, for tampering with essential infrastructure and cable theft.
He was arrested on 9 January 2025 in Strydom Park for stealing critical electrical components.
The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
This sentence marks City Power’s fourth conviction this year.
In another matter, the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court sentenced 33-year-old Fortune Moyo and 34-year-old Prince Mbazima to eight years in prison for stealing cables in Bree Street.
Before that, Lesotho nationals Pitso Motjotjo and Lekgetho Khoatsana received 10-year sentences from the Alexandra Wynberg Regional Court for tampering with essential infrastructure.
Mashaba also warned of a new crime trend – where fraudsters are posing as City Power employees or contractors to gain access to properties.
“On 4 March 2025, a customer’s car was stolen in Roodepoort by a suspect pretending to be a City Power technician,” she revealed.
“Criminals are now using deception to rob residents.
“We urge the public to be extremely cautious and verify credentials before allowing anyone onto their premises.”
She said City Power was making it clear – the era of unchecked cable theft and scrapyard profiteering was over.
The City Power CEO said the utility will continue to tighten the noose around criminals, intensify intelligence-driven operations, and ensure that every individual and business complicit in this sabotage is held accountable.
She urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the City Power or the police.
