{"id":17439,"date":"2025-07-22T14:44:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T12:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=17439"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:12:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:12:30","slug":"copper-theft-city-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/copper-theft-city-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Copper Theft Scandal: City Power Employees Arrested, 15 Face Disciplinary Action"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-city-power-crackdown-7-arrests-for-copper-theft-in-johannesburg\">City Power Crackdown: 7 Arrests for Copper Theft In Johannesburg<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>City Power Johannesburg has intensified its crackdown on cable thieves. This follows the&nbsp;<strong>arrests of seven suspects<\/strong>&nbsp;including&nbsp;<strong>three employees<\/strong>&nbsp;in a major raid on&nbsp;<strong>Mandela Day 18 July 2025<\/strong>.&nbsp;The arrests have again highlighted the serious impact of infrastructure thefts on the electricity supply. Moreover, it affects service delivery and safety across the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3071456556\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-arrests-on-mandela-day-employees-caught-red-handed\">Arrests on Mandela Day &#8211; Employees caught red-handed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a joint police operation, officers apprehended seven suspects at the Reuven Services Delivery Centre after catching them attempting to smuggle approximately 880 pieces of suspected stolen copper.These were worth an estimated\u00a0<strong>R200 000<\/strong>. They were using a\u00a0<strong>vehicle branded by City Power<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The suspects included a\u00a0<strong>trade assistant<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>cleaner<\/strong>,\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Expanded Public Works Programme worker<\/strong>\u00a0who were all employed by City Power.\u00a0The suspects had hidden the copper in boxes and loaded it onto a vehicle. Officers discovered the copper before the group could leave, leading to their arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authorities are holding the suspects at Jeppe SAPS on charges of theft and possession of suspected stolen goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-internal-response-and-disciplinary-action\">Internal Response and Disciplinary Action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>City Power CEO Tshifularo Mahava<\/strong>\u00a0expressed his disappointment following the arrests. This was particularly due to the involvement of employees.\u00a0&#8220;The involvement of employees in copper theft is deeply disappointing.\u00a0She stated that authorities had entrusted these individuals with the responsibility of protecting infrastructure. However, they chose to betray this trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the course of internal investigations,&nbsp;<strong>fifteen City Power employees<\/strong>&nbsp;face&nbsp;<strong>disciplinary actions<\/strong>&nbsp;in relation to theft and sabotage incidents across Johannesburg.&nbsp;The utility reiterated its&nbsp;<strong>zero tolerance approach<\/strong>&nbsp;towards corruption and criminal activity within its ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-172516887\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-repeat-incidents-the-observatory-substation-case\">Repeat Incidents &#8211; The Observatory Substation Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This latest case follows a previous copper theft incident that occurred on\u00a0<strong>February 20,25<\/strong>.\u00a0<strong>Six contract workers<\/strong>\u00a0had been arrested at the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/iol.co.za\/the-star\/news\/2025-02-13-city-power-arrests-six-contract-workers-for-copper-cable-theft-at-observatory-substation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Observatory substation<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0During a routine check, authorities found\u00a0<strong>129.5kg of stolen copper cables<\/strong>. An additional\u00a0<strong>11 kg<\/strong>\u00a0was found nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The arrestees were temporary contractors and not City Power employees. They have been prosecuted.&nbsp;These repeated incidents highlight the threat of copper theft and the need for continued enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-cost-of-copper-theft-in-johannesburg-s-power-grid\">The Cost of Copper Theft in Johannesburg&#8217;s Power Grid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Copper theft continues to have a devastating effect on Johannesburg\u2019s electricity infrastructure.\u00a0Frequent power outages and expensive repairs have led to\u00a0<strong>significant losses<\/strong>. Additionally, this causes\u00a0<strong>public dissatisfaction<\/strong>.\u00a0In some regions, essential public services, including hospitals and schools, experienced disruptions as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>City Power spokesperson&nbsp;<strong>Isaac Mangena<\/strong>&nbsp;stated that infrastructure crime is a serious threat to economic activity, public security, and service delivery in the city. He encouraged the communities to be vigilant. He emphasized the importance of reporting suspicious activities promptly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">City Power Johannesburg has confirmed the arrest of a total of seven suspects over the past week, including three employees who were apprehended on Friday. <br><br>These arrests, which took place in Reuven<br>and Lenasia, form part of broader efforts to dismantle internal corruption and\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PtjbNDy5Kv\">pic.twitter.com\/PtjbNDy5Kv<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Abramjee\/status\/1947297976474578994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">July 21, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Abramjee\/status\/1947297976474578994\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X (Twitter)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2430426921\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-enhanced-community-involvement-and-security\">Enhanced Community Involvement and Security<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>City Power, in response to the increasing incidents, has increased its&nbsp;<strong>collaboration efforts with SAPS<\/strong>. They have also deployed&nbsp;<strong>additional Inspections<\/strong>. It introduced&nbsp;<strong>new Surveillance Technologies<\/strong>&nbsp;at substations and depots.&nbsp;These include CCTV cameras, stricter access controls, and employee tracking protocols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mangena reaffirmed that &#8220;City Power will work hand-in-hand&#8221; with law enforcement and stakeholders in the community. They aim to dismantle both internal and external theft gangs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-advice-for-employees-and-residents\">Advice for Employees and Residents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>City Power encourages its staff and the public to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Report Suspicious Activities<\/strong>: Notify City Power or the police immediately if you notice unfamiliar individuals or vehicles around substations and electrical equipment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protect Public Infrastructure<\/strong>\u00a0Residents and community watch groups are encouraged to monitor vulnerable sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Understand The Consequences<\/strong>\u00a0Employees who are involved in theft will face\u00a0<strong>dismissal or criminal prosecution<\/strong>. Civilians who aid and abet copper theft could also be arrested.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contact Authorities<\/strong>\u00a0Use the\u00a0<strong>City Power Hotline (0800 003 2501)<\/strong>, or\u00a0<strong>SAPS<\/strong>\u00a0for anonymous reporting of crimes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Also read our article on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/jmpd-officers-arrested\/\">Knowing Your Rights and the JMPD Officers Arrested for Corruption<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1587512017\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-long-term-battle\">A Long Term Battle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The theft of copper remains a&nbsp;<strong>serious challenge<\/strong>&nbsp;for Johannesburg, with&nbsp;<strong>tens of thousands<\/strong>&nbsp;of incidents reported each year.&nbsp;Theft and vandalism continue to undermine the reliability of service delivery. This is despite numerous arrests and prosecutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>City Power&#8217;s recent operations, such as the July 18 arrests, and earlier\u00a0<strong>substation bust<\/strong>\u00a0mark significant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.co.za\/news\/city-power-employees-among-seven-arrested-copper-theft\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">steps towards combating<\/a> this criminal activity.\u00a0CEO Mashava assured residents. He confirmed that the utility would\u00a0<strong>&#8220;pursue any offenders, both internally and externally, with no fear or favor.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>City Power hopes that by <a href=\"https:\/\/thebulrushes.com\/2025\/03\/09\/era-of-unchecked-cable-theft-and-scrapyard-profiteering-is-over-declares-city-power\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eliminating corruption<\/a> and strengthening oversight. It aims to rebuild\u00a0<strong>public confidence<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>maintain essential services<\/strong>\u00a0to all Johannesburg residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seven suspects, including three City Power employees, were arrested for copper theft worth R200,000. Fifteen City Power workers face disciplinary action amid ongoing efforts to combat cable theft in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":17501,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Seven suspects, including three City Power employees, were arrested for copper theft worth R200,000. Fifteen City Power workers face disciplinary action amid ongoing efforts to combat cable theft in Johannesburg.","footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[3986,819,2525,820,5756],"class_list":{"0":"post-17439","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-cable-theft","9":"tag-city-power","10":"tag-electricity","11":"tag-power-outage","12":"tag-power-supply"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17439"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17504,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17439\/revisions\/17504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}