City Power, the electricity utility provider in Johannesburg, has recently discovered that 300 meters of copper cable were stolen during a vandalism incident that resulted in a fire in the Joburg CBD. The fire caused power outages in various parts of the city and raised concerns among residents.
The incident occurred when underground cables caught alight, filling parts of Johannesburg’s inner city with smoke. It was later determined that cable theft was the cause of the fire.
City Power security personnel even exchanged gunfire with informal settlers who were attempting to steal the burned cables.
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City Power has been actively working to address the aftermath of the fire and the cable theft. Clean-up operations have been underway, with the focus on clearing the 1.2km tunnel where the fire originated.
During the inspection of the site, it was discovered that 300 meters of copper cable had been cut and stolen, confirming tampering as the cause of the fire.
Authorities faced extreme conditions when they first entered the tunnel, encountering temperatures as high as 200°C. The intense heat was enough to cause severe burns and damage to their skin.
Inside the tunnel, they found various tools, including a saw, cutter, screwdrivers, and even a cellphone.
City Power CEO, Tshifularo Mashava, has taken serious action in response to the incident. She has written to the Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen Fannie Masemola, requesting assistance and calling for the military to help combat cable theft and protect critical infrastructure.
In her letter, Mashava warned that if left unchecked, vandalism could completely destabilize the city’s power supply. The theft and vandalism of City Power infrastructure have had a significant financial impact.
Mashava revealed that the cost of theft and vandalism for the current financial year stands at R160,475,253. This figure includes expenses related to illegal connections, cable theft, and vandalism of transformers.
Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, previously disclosed that a staggering 4,633km of copper cable had been stolen between the 2020 financial year and the end of October 2023.
These thefts not only disrupt the power supply but also result in significant financial losses for utility providers.
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