Thandoluhle Ngcobo20 June 2025 | 5:22

'It's a war': City Power says fight against cable thieves escalating

The power utility said in June, nine suspects were taken into custody as it continues to dismantle syndicates targeting the city's electricity network.

'It's a war': City Power says fight against cable thieves escalating

FILE: Some of the copper cables recovered in a raid on a scrap yard on 17 September 2024. Picture: @CityPowerJhb/X

JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg City Power said more than 170 criminals had been arrested since the start of 2025 for stealing cables.

The power utility said that in June, nine suspects were taken into custody as it continued to dismantle syndicates targeting the city's electricity network.

Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the fight against the crime was escalating, with recent incidents involving armed confrontations.

"It’s a war and a serious war, especially in the underground tunnels, where we have seen an increase in the number of the shootouts that are happening between our teams and some of the cable thieves underground."